惸 (qióng) - Solitary & lonely

惸Tone 2

qióng ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

情仁

惸 · qióng

Solitary;

lonely;

desolate;

also used to describe someone without siblings or in a state of distress.

Solitarylonelydesolate

Usage highlights

Solitary and aloneLonely and helplessStanding aloneWithout siblingsSolitary shadowDesolate heart

Synonyms

  • 独— alone; solitary
  • 孤— orphaned; lonely
  • 寂— lonely; quiet

Antonyms

  • 众— crowd; many
  • 群— group; flock
  • 聚— gather; assemble

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He lived a solitary life (惸独生活).
  • The child was left alone and helpless (惸惸孑立).
  • She felt lonely without family (无亲惸惸).
  • The poem expresses a desolate mood (惸惸之情).

Collocations

  • Solitary and alone(惸独)
  • Lonely and helpless(惸惸无依)
  • Standing alone(惸惸孑立)
  • Without siblings(惸寡)
  • Solitary shadow(惸影)
  • Desolate heart(惸心)

Idioms

  • Solitary and alone, without siblings(惸独鳏寡)
  • Standing alone, desolate and helpless(惸惸孑立，形影相吊)
  • Widowers, widows, orphans, and the childless(鳏寡孤独惸)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally described people without siblings or family support, extending to general loneliness.
  • Often appears in classical literature describing social isolation or personal distress.
  • In Confucian context, represents one of the groups deserving social compassion and support.

FAQ