獨 (dú) - Alone & solitary

獨Tone 2

dú ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

獨 · dú

Alone;

solitary;

single;

only;

unique;

independent;

without support or company.

Alonesolitarysingle

Usage highlights

AloneIndependentUniqueMonopolySingle childSolitary

Synonyms

  • 單— single; alone
  • 孤— lonely; solitary
  • 獨自— alone; by oneself

Antonyms

  • 眾— many; numerous
  • 群— group; crowd
  • 共— together; shared

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He lives alone in a small apartment (獨自居住).
  • This is a unique specimen (獨特的標本).
  • She has independent thinking (獨立思考).
  • The company holds a monopoly in the market (獨佔市場).

Collocations

  • Alone(獨自)
  • Independent(獨立)
  • Unique(獨特)
  • Monopoly(獨佔)
  • Single child(獨生子女)
  • Solitary(孤獨)

Idioms

  • Standing alone like a giant(獨樹一幟)
  • Unparalleled in the world(舉世無雙)
  • Making one's own decisions(獨斷專行)
  • Solitary and aloof(孤芳自賞)
  • Unique insight(獨具慧眼)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, independence and self-reliance are valued virtues, though excessive solitude may be viewed negatively.
  • The character appears in philosophical contexts discussing individuality versus collectivism.
  • Historically used in contexts describing rulers or leaders who act without consultation.

FAQ