we meet only to part; meeting is the first step to parting
A proverb expressing the Buddhist-influenced idea that all meetings inevitably lead to parting; often used to reflect on the transient nature of relationships.
They say 'meeting is the beginning of parting,' but I still want to cherish encounters with people.
At the graduation ceremony, the principal said 'meeting is the first step to parting' and spoke of the sadness of farewells and new beginnings.
一期一会 emphasizes treasuring each encounter as a once-in-a-lifetime moment, while 会うは別れの始め focuses on the inevitability of parting after meeting.
別れ is the general noun for parting or farewell, whereas 会うは別れの始め is a fixed proverb about the cycle of meeting and parting.
Common kanji spelling using 会う for meeting.
Alternate kanji spelling using 逢う, which carries a more poetic or fateful nuance of meeting.
A traditional Japanese proverb reflecting Buddhist concepts of impermanence (無常). The exact origin is uncertain, but it has been used for centuries in literature and everyday speech.