孤 (gū) - orphan & solitary

孤Tone 1

gū ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 子

枫惠

孤 · gū

orphan;

solitary;

lone;

isolated;

fatherless;

I (self-deprecating term used by feudal rulers)

orphansolitarylone

Usage highlights

orphanlonelyisolatedsolitarysingleorphanage

Synonyms

  • 独— alone; single
  • 单— single; solitary
  • 寡— widowed; few

Antonyms

  • 众— crowd; many
  • 群— group; flock
  • 双— pair; double

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The child became an orphan after losing both parents (孤儿).
  • He lives a solitary life (孤独的生活).
  • A lone boat floats on the lake (孤舟).
  • The emperor referred to himself as 'the solitary one' (孤家).

Collocations

  • orphan(孤儿)
  • lonely(孤独)
  • isolated(孤立)
  • solitary(孤单)
  • single-handed(孤军)
  • orphanage(孤儿院)

Idioms

  • Standing alone and aloof from the world(孤芳自赏)
  • A single tree cannot make a forest(独木不成林)
  • Fighting a lone battle(孤军奋战)
  • An orphan and a widow(孤儿寡母)
  • Arrogant and aloof(孤高自许)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial China, rulers often used 孤 as a self-deprecating term meaning 'the solitary one' or 'the orphaned one'.
  • The character carries connotations of both vulnerability (as in orphan) and independence/solitude.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, being orphaned was considered one of the greatest misfortunes.

FAQ