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不辞而别 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不辞而别bùcí’érbiéto leave without saying good-byeHSK 7, unknown, 30 strokes, rank #20607, Very Hard
bùcí’érbié(bu4ci2er2bie2)bu ci er bie T4
  1. 1to leave without saying good-bye
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March 24, 2026

不辞而别(不辭而別)bùcí’érbié(bu4ci2er2bie2)

不辞而别 refers to leaving without informing anyone or saying goodbye. It is often used to describe a sudden departure that can be perceived as rude or inconsiderate, especially in personal relationships or social settings.

Strokes30Frequency#20607DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, saying goodbye is often considered important, reflecting respect and consideration for others. Leaving without saying farewell can be seen as a breach of social etiquette, particularly among close friends or family.

Memory tip

Imagine someone sneaking out of a party without saying goodbye, leaving their friends confused. The '不' (bu) means 'not', '辞' (ci) means 'to say goodbye', '而' (er) means 'and', and '别' (bie) means 'to leave'. Together, they paint the picture of leaving without any farewell.

Meanings of 不辞而别

bùcí’érbié(bu4ci2er2bie2)
1to leave without saying good-bye
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About 不辞而别

不辞而别Simplified
不辭而別Traditional
30Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 不辞而别

Usage Notes

This idiom is typically used in informal contexts and can have a negative connotation. Be careful not to confuse it with other phrases that imply a more polite or expected departure, such as '告别' (gao4 bie2), which means 'to say goodbye'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 不辞而别 is not an HSK word, understanding idioms is crucial for advanced learners. Focus on how idioms convey cultural nuances that standard vocabulary might not capture. This can help in understanding conversational Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 不辞而别 with more neutral expressions of leaving. For example, saying '他不辞而别很礼貌' (ta1 bu4 ci2 er2 bie2 hen3 li3 mao4) is incorrect; instead, use it to indicate a sudden or unexpected departure.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不辞而别

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Idiom spotlight: 不辞而别

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:not say and then depart

Component characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
辞cíto resign
HSK 713 strokes舌
View full entry
而érand
HSK 46 strokes而
View full entry
别biéto leave
HSK 27 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say to leave without saying good-bye in Chinese

“to leave without saying good-bye” in Chinese is不辞而别bùcí’érbié

不辞而别 refers to leaving without informing anyone or saying goodbye. It is often used to describe a sudden departure that can be perceived as rude or inconsiderate, especially in personal relationships or social settings.

When to use 不辞而别

This idiom is typically used in informal contexts and can have a negative connotation. Be careful not to confuse it with other phrases that imply a more polite or expected departure, such as '告别' (gao4 bie2), which means 'to say goodbye'.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 不辞而别 with more neutral expressions of leaving. For example, saying '他不辞而别很礼貌' (ta1 bu4 ci2 er2 bie2 hen3 li3 mao4) is incorrect; instead, use it to indicate a sudden or unexpected departure.

Write 不辞而别

不
辞
而
别

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Cultural Notes for 不辞而别

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In many Western cultures, leaving without saying goodbye can be viewed simply as a personal choice, whereas in Chinese culture it may be interpreted as a lack of respect.

Frequently asked questions about 不辞而别

No, it is typically used in informal contexts and can imply rudeness.

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