‘叙别’ is a literary and somewhat formal verb meaning ‘to bid farewell while engaging in heartfelt conversation.’ It combines 叙 (xù), meaning ‘to narrate’ or ‘to chat,’ and 别 (bié), meaning ‘to part’ or ‘to separate.’ Together, they evoke the image of two people pausing before departure to share memories, express feelings, or exchange sincere words — not just a quick goodbye, but a meaningful, reflective parting. The word emphasizes emotional depth and intentionality in farewells.

This term appears most often in written Chinese — such as essays, poetry, letters, or historical narratives — rather than casual speech. It’s commonly used when describing partings between close friends, family members, or colleagues after long companionship. While grammatically it functions as a verb, it rarely takes aspect particles like 了 or 过 in everyday usage; instead, it often appears in nominalized or descriptive contexts (e.g., ‘一场叙别’). Its tone is gentle, nostalgic, and respectful.