The word 告别 is formed by combining two characters: 告 (gào), which carries the meaning "to tell" or "to announce", and 别 (bié), which means "to part" or "to separate". Conceptually, the character 告 initiates the action of communicating, while 别 defines the specific nature of that action as a leave-taking. When joined, they create a single idea that visually and semantically represents the act of formally announcing a departure, capturing the moment where one declares or acknowledges a parting, thus forming the complete concept "to bid farewell".