cíxíng: 辞行 - To Take One's Leave, To Bid Farewell (Formal)

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 辞行 (cíxíng), a formal Chinese verb for saying goodbye before a significant departure. This guide explains what 辞行 means, its cultural importance in showing respect, and how to use it correctly when leaving a job, finishing a long visit, or moving away. Understand the key differences between 辞行, 告别 (gàobié), and 再见 (zàijiàn) to master Chinese etiquette.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): cíxíng
• Part of Speech: Verb (specifically, a verb-object compound: 辞/to state + 行/departure)
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To formally announce one's departure and say goodbye, typically before a long journey or at the end of a long stay.
• In a Nutshell: 辞行 (cíxíng) isn't your everyday “goodbye.” Think of it as “to formally take one's leave.” It's an act of respect you perform before a significant departure, like moving to a new city, leaving a company, or ending a long visit with family. It’s a deliberate, respectful gesture, not a casual “see ya!”

• 辞 (cí): This character means “to take leave,” “to resign,” or “words/speech.” It's composed of 辛 (originally representing a tool for speech/ruling) and 舌 (shé, tongue), though the modern form has evolved. The core idea is using words to make a formal statement.
• 行 (xíng): This character simply means “to go,” “to walk,” or “to travel.” It signifies the action of departing or moving.
• Together, 辞行 (cíxíng) literally means “to state one's departure.” This combination perfectly captures the essence of the word: a formal, verbal act of announcing you are leaving.

In Chinese culture, maintaining relationships and showing respect (礼貌, lǐmào) are paramount. 辞行 (cíxíng) is a powerful tool for doing just that. It's not just about conveying information; it's a ritual that honors the host, superior, or elder you are leaving. Compare this to Western culture. If you're leaving a job, you might send a farewell email. If you're moving, you might have a casual going-away party. While these are great, 辞行 is often a more personal and formal act. It involves specifically going to the person (e.g., your boss, your grandparents) to thank them for their guidance or hospitality and to officially state your intention to leave. This act reinforces social harmony and acknowledges the other person's role in your life. Failing to 辞行 in an appropriate situation can be seen as disrespectful or ungrateful, as if you are leaving without a proper sense of closure or appreciation for the relationship. It's an etiquette “must-do” before any significant, long-term separation.

辞行 (cíxíng) is a formal word, but it is very much used in modern life in specific contexts. You would not use it when leaving a restaurant or a friend's casual get-together.

• Professional Context: This is one of the most common uses. When you resign from a company, it is proper etiquette to go to your direct supervisor and perhaps the head of the company to 辞行. This is separate from just submitting your resignation letter; it's the personal, face-to-face goodbye.
• Social/Family Context: If you have been staying with relatives for an extended period (like for a holiday or summer vacation), you would formally 辞行 to the elders of the family before you leave to go back home. Similarly, if you are moving abroad or to a different city, you would make a point to visit key mentors, elders, or close family friends to 辞行.
• Formal Visits: If you are part of a formal delegation or an academic exchange, you would 辞行 to your host organization or counterpart before your departure.

The connotation is always respectful and serious. It carries a weight that a simple “bye” does not.

• Example 1:
  • 我明天就回国了，今天特地来向您辞行。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ míngtiān jiù huíguó le, jīntiān tèdì lái xiàng nín cíxíng.
  • English: I'm returning to my country tomorrow, so I came specially to bid you farewell today.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, polite usage. “特地 (tèdì)” means “specially” or “for a special purpose,” which highlights the formal, intentional nature of the visit. “向您 (xiàng nín)“—”to you (formal)“—is the standard structure.
• Example 2:
  • 在离开公司前，他向每一位帮助过他的同事辞行。
  • Pinyin: Zài líkāi gōngsī qián, tā xiàng měi yí wèi bāngzhù guò tā de tóngshì cíxíng.
  • English: Before leaving the company, he said goodbye to every colleague who had helped him.
  • Analysis: This shows the action being directed towards multiple people. It implies a sense of gratitude and proper closure in a professional setting.
• Example 3:
  • 他要去国外留学了，所以挨家挨户地向亲戚们辞行。
  • Pinyin: Tā yào qù guówài liúxué le, suǒyǐ āi jiā āi hù de xiàng qīnqimen cíxíng.
  • English: He's going to study abroad, so he went from door to door to say goodbye to his relatives.
  • Analysis: The phrase “挨家挨户 (āi jiā āi hù)” (from door to door) emphasizes the thoroughness and importance of the act of 辞行 before a very long departure.
• Example 4:
  • 大使在结束任期前，向该国总统辞行。
  • Pinyin: Dàshǐ zài jiéshù rènqī qián, xiàng gāi guó zǒngtǒng cíxíng.
  • English: Before the end of his term, the ambassador bid farewell to the country's president.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 辞行 in a very high-level, formal diplomatic context.
• Example 5:
  • 时间不早了，我们是时候向主人辞行了。
  • Pinyin: Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒmen shì shíhòu xiàng zhǔrén cíxíng le.
  • English: It's getting late, it's time for us to take our leave of the host.
  • Analysis: While similar to 告辞, using 辞行 here might imply the visit was long (e.g., a weekend stay) and the departure is final for this trip, not just for the evening.
• Example 6:
  • 我下个星期就搬去上海了，这周末我得回趟老家，跟我奶奶辞行。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xià ge xīngqī jiù bān qù Shànghǎi le, zhè zhōumò wǒ děi huí tàng lǎojiā, gēn wǒ nǎinai cíxíng.
  • English: I'm moving to Shanghai next week, so this weekend I have to make a trip back to my hometown to say goodbye to my grandma.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical example. The departure (moving cities) is significant, and the person being addressed (grandma) is a respected elder, making 辞行 the perfect word.
• Example 7:
  • 他默默地收拾好行李，没有向任何人辞行就走了。
  • Pinyin: Tā mòmò de shōushi hǎo xínglǐ, méiyǒu xiàng rènhé rén cíxíng jiù zǒu le.
  • English: He silently packed his bags and left without saying goodbye to anyone.
  • Analysis: This example shows the *absence* of the action. The sentence implies his departure was abrupt, cold, or perhaps even rude because he skipped the expected ritual.
• Example 8:
  • 学生们毕业时，都到办公室向敬爱的王老师辞行。
  • Pinyin: Xuéshēngmen bìyè shí, dōu dào bàngōngshì xiàng jìng'ài de Wáng lǎoshī cíxíng.
  • English: When the students graduated, they all went to the office to bid farewell to their beloved Teacher Wang.
  • Analysis: Graduation is a final departure from a stage of life. Saying goodbye to a respected teacher (敬爱, jìng'ài - respected and beloved) is a perfect scenario for 辞行.
• Example 9:
  • 临走前，我必须向张总辞行，感谢他多年的栽培。
  • Pinyin: Lín zǒu qián, wǒ bìxū xiàng Zhāng zǒng cíxíng, gǎnxiè tā duōnián de zāipéi.
  • English: Before I leave, I must bid farewell to Director Zhang and thank him for his many years of mentorship.
  • Analysis: “栽培 (zāipéi)” means to cultivate or foster, often used for a senior's mentorship of a junior. This context makes the formal act of 辞行 essential to express gratitude.
• Example 10:
  • 儿子，你明天就要去当兵了，记得去跟你外公外婆辞行。
  • Pinyin: Érzi, nǐ míngtiān jiù yào qù dāngbīng le, jìde qù gēn nǐ wàigōng wàipó cíxíng.
  • English: Son, you're leaving to join the army tomorrow, remember to go say goodbye to your maternal grandparents.
  • Analysis: Joining the army is a major, long-term departure. This sentence shows a parent reminding their child of their social and familial duty to 辞行 to their elders.

The most common mistake for learners is using 辞行 (cíxíng) in casual situations where 再见 (zàijiàn) or 告别 (gàobié) would be more appropriate.

• Mistake: At the end of a dinner party with friends, you say: “我要回家了，向大家辞行！” (Wǒ yào huíjiā le, xiàng dàjiā cíxíng!)
• Why it's wrong: This is far too formal and dramatic. It sounds like you are moving to another planet and will never see your friends again.
• Correct: “我先走了，拜拜！” (Wǒ xiān zǒu le, bàibai!) or “明天见！” (Míngtiān jiàn!)

辞行 (cíxíng) vs. 告别 (gàobié) This is a crucial distinction:

• 辞行 (cíxíng): The specific, formal action of going to someone to announce your departure before a long trip or permanent separation. It emphasizes the “visit to say goodbye.”
• 告别 (gàobié): A more general term for “bidding farewell.” You can 告别 an era, 告别 your youth, or 告别 your friends at the airport. 告别 can describe the entire process of parting, while 辞行 is the specific, respectful visit you make before the final parting.

Think of it this way: You might visit your boss to 辞行 on Friday. Then, on Saturday at the airport, your friends come to 告别.

• 告别 (gàobié) - A more general term for “to bid farewell.” The most common point of confusion with 辞行.
• 送行 (sòngxíng) - To see someone off (e.g., at an airport or train station). This is the action of the person staying behind, often as a response to the leaver's 辞行.
• 告辞 (gàocí) - A very formal way to say “I'm leaving now” at the end of a shorter event like a banquet or meeting. It means “to take one's leave right now.”
• 离别 (líbié) - The state or act of parting/separation. It's more of a noun or a literary verb describing the often sad feeling of separation itself.
• 辞职 (cízhí) - To resign from a job. This is the official act of quitting, which is often followed by the personal act of 辞行.
• 道别 (dàobié) - To say goodbye. Very similar to 告别, perhaps slightly more literary.
• 再见 (zàijiàn) - The standard, everyday “goodbye,” literally “see you again.”
• 礼貌 (lǐmào) - Politeness; etiquette. The entire concept of 辞行 is deeply rooted in 礼貌.