鳏 (guān) - Widower & a man who has lost his wife and

鳏Tone 1

guān ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

鳏 · guān

Widower;

a man who has lost his wife and has not remarried;

also refers to being solitary or bereaved.

Widowera man who has lost his wife andalso refers to being solitary or bereaved.

Usage highlights

WidowerLive as a widowerWidowers and widowsThe lonely and bereavedSolitary fishGrief of widowhood

Synonyms

  • 寡— Widow (specifically for a woman)
  • 孤— Orphan; solitary

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He became a widower (鳏夫) after his wife passed away.
  • The old man lived a solitary life (鳏居).
  • The poem describes the grief of a widower (鳏寡孤独).

Collocations

  • Widower(鳏夫)
  • Live as a widower(鳏居)
  • Widowers and widows(鳏寡)
  • The lonely and bereaved(鳏寡孤独)
  • Solitary fish(鳏鱼)
  • Grief of widowhood(鳏鳏)

Idioms

  • Widowers, widows, orphans, and the childless(鳏寡孤独)
  • Like a bereaved fish, sleepless with longing(鳏鱼渴凤)
  • The sorrow of widowhood and orphanhood(鳏寡之痛)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, '鳏' specifically denotes a man bereaved of his wife, contrasting with '寡' for a widowed woman.
  • The character originally depicted a fish (鱼) that is solitary or sleepless, symbolizing loneliness and longing.
  • Confucian texts emphasize caring for '鳏寡孤独' (the widowed, orphaned, and childless) as a mark of benevolent governance.

FAQ