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寡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
寡
guǎ
widowed; friendless, alone
n, 14 strokes, radical 宀, rank #16850, Very Hard
寡
guǎ
few
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 宀, rank #16850, Very Hard
寡
guǎ
scant
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 宀, rank #16850, Very Hard
guǎ(gua3)gua T3
1widowed; friendless, alone
2few
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March 24, 2026
寡guǎ(gua3)
The character 寡 (guǎ) primarily means 'few' or 'scant,' and is often used to describe a small number of things or a lack of something. It can also refer to being widowed or feeling lonely, reflecting a sense of isolation or a lack of companionship.
Strokes14Radical宀Frequency#16850DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being widowed carries significant emotional weight, and traditional views often emphasize the importance of family and companionship, making the state of being '寡' especially poignant.
Memory tip
Imagine a widow (the meaning of the character) standing alone in a sparse field. The character 寡 visually resembles a person (the top) looking out over a vast but empty space (the bottom), symbolizing loneliness and scarcity.
Meanings of 寡
guǎ(gua3)
1widowed; friendless, alone
2few
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 寡
寡Simplified
14Strokes
宀Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 寡
Podcast: 寡
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AI Study Notes for 寡
Quick Contrast
寡 (guǎ) vs 少 (shǎo) — use 寡 when emphasizing a lack or scarcity, while 少 simply indicates a smaller quantity.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 寡 with other similar-sounding words. It's important to note that while 寡 can be used formally, it may sound a bit old-fashioned in everyday conversation. Often, it collocates with terms indicating quantity, like '寡言' (quiet) or '寡淡' (bland).
HSK Study Tips
Although not an official HSK word, 寡 can be related to HSK Level 3 vocabulary involving numbers and quantities. Students should focus on how to use 寡 in various contexts, especially in relation to emotions or descriptions of quantity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 寡 with the similar-sounding word '华' (huá), which means 'magnificent' or 'splendid.' Remember, 寡 relates to scarcity or loneliness, while 华 conveys richness and beauty.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寡
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The character 寡 (guǎ) primarily means 'few' or 'scant,' and is often used to describe a small number of things or a lack of something. It can also refer to being widowed or feeling lonely, reflecting a sense of isolation or a lack of companionship.
When to use 寡
Common mistakes include confusing 寡 with other similar-sounding words. It's important to note that while 寡 can be used formally, it may sound a bit old-fashioned in everyday conversation. Often, it collocates with terms indicating quantity, like '寡言' (quiet) or '寡淡' (bland).
寡 or something close to it
寡 (guǎ) vs 少 (shǎo) — use 寡 when emphasizing a lack or scarcity, while 少 simply indicates a smaller quantity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 寡 with the similar-sounding word '华' (huá), which means 'magnificent' or 'splendid.' Remember, 寡 relates to scarcity or loneliness, while 华 conveys richness and beauty.
Write 寡
寡
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Practice writing 寡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 寡
寡 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
珀尔并不介意他沉默____言；事实上，她喜欢这一点。
Pearl didn't mind his reticence; in fact she liked it.
Example Sentences for 寡 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
珀尔并不介意他沉默寡言；事实上，她喜欢这一点。
pò ěr bìng bù jièyì tā chénmò guǎ yán； shìshíshàng， tā xǐhuan zhè yīdiǎn。
Pearl didn't mind his reticence; in fact she liked it.
2
他是个一本正经、寡言少语的人。
tā shì gè yī běn zhèngjing、 guǎ yán shǎo yǔ de rén。
He was a serious, silent man.
3
守寡的打击和悲伤让人难以承受。
shǒu guǎ de dǎjī hé bēishāng ràng rén nányǐ chéngshòu。
Nothing can prepare you for the shock and grief of widowhood.
4
她郁郁寡欢，显然在惦念自己的孩子们。
tā yù yù guǎ huān， xiǎnrán zài diàn niàn zìjǐ de háizi men。
She was very glum and was obviously missing her children.
5
鲁道夫没再说话。看来他是个寡言少语的人。
Lǔ dào fū méi zàishuō huà。 kànlái tā shì gè guǎ yán shǎo yǔ de rén。
Rudolph said no more. Apparently he was a man of few words.
6
1967年她成了寡妇。
1967 nián tā chéng le guǎfu。
She was widowed in
7
平常在办公室里寡言少语的莱希医生似乎少了些拘谨，多了几分轻松。
píngcháng zài bàngōngshì lǐ guǎ yán shǎo yǔ de lái xī yīshēng sìhū shǎo le xiē jū jǐn， duō le jǐ fēn qīngsōng。
Usually so laconic in the office, Dr. Lahey seemed less guarded, more relaxed.
8
他们的优柔寡断已经被自信和钢铁般的决心所取代。
tāmen de yōu róu guǎ duàn yǐjīng bèi zìxìn hé gāngtiě bān de juéxīn suǒ qǔdài。
Their indecision has been replaced by confidence and steely determination.
9
他寡言少语，回答我的问题时只是往外蹦单字。
tā guǎ yán shǎo yǔ， huídá wǒ de wèntí shí zhǐshì wǎng wài bèng dān zì。
A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables.
10
赛克斯先生进来了 ― ―这人又高又胖,约莫50岁, 眉目清秀, 一副优柔寡断的相貌.
sài kè Sī xiānsheng jìnlái le ― ― zhè rén yòu gāo yòu pán, yāo mò50 suì, méi mù qīng xiù, yī fù yōu róu guǎ duàn de xiàngmào.
Mr. Sykes entered - a tall, stout man of about fifty, comely of feature , but feeble of physiognomy.
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Word Family of 寡
Words containing this character20
寡妇guǎfuwidow寡婦
寡guǎfew
优柔寡断indecisive優柔寡斷
寡人I (first person pronoun used by royalty or nobility)
沉默寡言reticent
孤寡to be lonely
寡头oligarch寡頭
多寡number
孤陋寡闻gūlòuguǎwénignorant and inexperienced孤陋寡聞
郁郁寡欢depressed鬱鬱寡歡
守寡to live as widow
寡言taciturn
寡不敌众heavily outnumbered寡不敵眾
孤家寡人one who is cut off from others (idiom)
曲高和寡highbrow
寡居to live as a widow
寡淡insipid
寡糖oligosaccharide
鳏寡孤独fig. people with no one left to rely on鰥寡孤獨
敌众我寡heavily outnumbered敵眾我寡
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 寡
What does 寡妇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寡
In a sentence, 寡 can describe a person who is lonely, as in '他非常寡，常常一个人待在家里。' (He is very lonely and often stays at home alone.)
You can use 寡 to describe a small number of friends or something scarce, such as '我有寡朋友' (I have few friends).
Yes, 寡 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more commonly found in literary or formal discourse.
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