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March 24, 2026
孑jié(jie2)
The character 孑 (jié) primarily means 'alone' or 'solitary.' It conveys a sense of being left over or remaining by oneself, often used in contexts describing loneliness or isolation. This word can also imply something that is leftover, emphasizing its solitary nature.
Strokes3Radical孑Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of solitude is often reflected in poetry and art, where being alone can symbolize introspection and deeper existential themes. 孑 captures this essence of solitude that is valued in many literary works.
Memory Tip
Imagine a single child (the 'child' radical 孑 resembles a lone figure) standing alone in a vast field. The 'jié' sound rhymes with 'jet,' helping you visualize this child as a solitary figure watching a jet fly by, representing freedom yet feeling lonely.
Meanings of 孑
jié(jie2)
1alone, lonely, solitary; remaining, left-over
2all alone
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 孑
孑Simplified
3Strokes
孑Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 孑
Podcast: 孑
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AI Study Notes for 孑
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a single child (the 'child' radical 孑 resembles a lone figure) standing alone in a vast field. The 'jié' sound rhymes with 'jet,' helping you visualize this child as a solitary figure watching a jet fly by, representing freedom yet feeling lonely.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 孑 with similar-sounding words. It is more formal and literary compared to colloquial terms for loneliness. Common collocations include '孤独的孑' (lonely person) and '剩下的孑' (remaining alone).
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of the HSK vocabulary, 孑 can help learners understand the nuances of solitude and its emotional weight in Chinese language. Focus on its usage in literary contexts or poetry, as it often appears in more advanced texts.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of solitude is often reflected in poetry and art, where being alone can symbolize introspection and deeper existential themes. 孑 captures this essence of solitude that is valued in many literary works.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 孑 with 孤 (gū), which also means lonely but in a less formal sense. For example, saying '我很孤' (I am very lonely) is incorrect; instead, use '我很孤独' (I am very lonely) or '我很孑' for a more literary tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 孑
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Grammar Patterns of 孑
孑 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Complete the Sentence
埃米愈发感到自己孤立无援，____然一身。
Amy had the growing sense that she was adrift and isolated.
Amy had the growing sense that she was adrift and isolated.
Cultural Notes for 孑
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of solitude is often reflected in poetry and art, where being alone can symbolize introspection and deeper existential themes. 孑 captures this essence of solitude that is valued in many literary works.
Word Family of 孑
Words Containing This Character10
孑然solitary
孑然一身to be all alone in the world
孑jiéall alone
孑立to be alone
孑孓mosquito larva
孑遗survivors孑遺
茕茕孑立to stand all alone煢煢孑立
孑身all alone
靡有孑遗all dead and no survivors靡有孑遺
孑遗生物living fossil孑遺生物
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 孑然 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 孑
You might say, '他感到很孑' (He feels very lonely) to express a feeling of isolation.
Yes, similar terms include 孤独 (gūdú), which means lonely or solitude.
