鰥 (guān) - Widower & bereaved

鰥Tone 1

guān ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

鰥 · guān

Widower;

bereaved;

solitary;

a man who has lost his wife.

Widowerbereavedsolitary

Usage highlights

WidowerLive as a widowerWidowers and widowsThe lonely widowerWidowers, widows, orphans, and the childless

Synonyms

  • 寡— Widow (female counterpart)
  • 孤— Orphan; solitary

Antonyms

  • 雙— Pair; couple
  • 偶— Spouse; partner

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He became a widower (鰥夫) after his wife passed away.
  • The old man lived a solitary life (鰥居).
  • The widower's grief was profound (鰥寡孤獨).

Collocations

  • Widower(鰥夫)
  • Live as a widower(鰥居)
  • Widowers and widows(鰥寡)
  • The lonely widower(孤鰥)
  • Widowers, widows, orphans, and the childless(鰥寡孤獨)

Idioms

  • Widowers, widows, orphans, and the childless(鰥寡孤獨)
  • Solitary and alone(鰥鰥)
  • The sorrow of widowhood(鰥魚之悲)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, being a widower (鰥) was considered one of the four sorrowful states of life, along with being a widow, orphan, and childless.
  • The character originally depicted a fish with open eyes, symbolizing sleeplessness and sorrow.
  • Confucian texts often mention caring for widowers and other vulnerable groups as a mark of benevolent governance.

FAQ