独 (dú) - alone & solitary

独Tone 2

dú ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

独 · dú

alone;

solitary;

single;

only;

unique;

independent

alonesolitarysingle

Usage highlights

aloneuniqueindependenceonly childsolitarysingle

Synonyms

  • 孤— lonely; solitary
  • 单— single; alone
  • 独一— sole; only one

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He lives alone (独自生活).
  • This is a unique specimen (独特的标本).
  • The child is an only child (独生子女).
  • She made an independent decision (独立决定).

Collocations

  • alone(独自)
  • unique(独特)
  • independence(独立)
  • only child(独生子女)
  • solitary(孤独)
  • single-minded(专独)

Idioms

  • Unrivalled(独一无二)
  • Independent and self-reliant(独立自主)
  • Solitary and aloof(孤芳独赏)
  • Standing alone(独树一帜)
  • Making one's own decisions(独断专行)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, being '独' (alone) was often viewed negatively as it contradicted the Confucian emphasis on family and social harmony.
  • The one-child policy era popularized terms like 独生子女 (only child), giving 独 new social significance.
  • In modern contexts, 独立 (independence) has become a positive value, especially in education and personal development.

FAQ