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孤儿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
孤儿gū’érorphanHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #4797, Very Hard
gū’ér(gu1er2)gu er T1
  1. 1orphan
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March 24, 2026

孤儿(孤兒)gū’ér(gu1er2)

孤儿 (gū'ér) means 'orphan,' referring to a child whose parents are deceased or unable to care for them. This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about social welfare, family, and care for children.

Strokes10Frequency#4797DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 孤儿 are often viewed with compassion, and there are various government and non-governmental organizations dedicated to helping orphans, reflecting the societal value placed on family and community support.

Memory Tip

Think of '孤' (gū) as a lonely person standing alone, representing the loneliness of an orphan, while '儿' (ér) means 'child.' Together, they form a vivid image of a child who is alone in the world.

Meanings of 孤儿

gū’ér(gu1er2)
1orphan
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About 孤儿

孤儿Simplified
孤兒Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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AI Study Notes for 孤儿

Quick Contrast

弃儿 (qì'ér) — use 孤儿 (gū'ér) for orphans specifically without parents, while 弃儿 (qì'ér) refers to abandoned children regardless of parental status.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 孤儿; it has a falling tone for '孤' and a rising tone for '儿.' It's often used in legal and social services contexts, so ensure the formality of your speech matches the setting.

HSK Study Tips

孤儿 may not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects to other words related to family and social issues, enhancing vocabulary around social topics. Students should focus on associated terms like '家庭' (family) and '照顾' (to care for).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 孤儿 with 孤独, using them interchangeably. Remember, 孤儿 is specifically for 'orphan' and should not be used to describe general loneliness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 孤儿

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Component Characters

孤gūlone
8 strokes子
View full entry
儿érson
HSK 72 strokes儿
View full entry

How to say orphan in Chinese

“orphan” in Chinese is孤儿gū’ér

孤儿 (gū'ér) means 'orphan,' referring to a child whose parents are deceased or unable to care for them. This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about social welfare, family, and care for children.

When to use 孤儿

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 孤儿; it has a falling tone for '孤' and a rising tone for '儿.' It's often used in legal and social services contexts, so ensure the formality of your speech matches the setting.

孤儿 or something close to it

弃儿 (qì'ér) — use 孤儿 (gū'ér) for orphans specifically without parents, while 弃儿 (qì'ér) refers to abandoned children regardless of parental status.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 孤儿 with 孤独, using them interchangeably. Remember, 孤儿 is specifically for 'orphan' and should not be used to describe general loneliness.

Write 孤儿

孤
儿

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Frequently Asked Questions about 孤儿

孤儿 specifically means 'orphan,' while 孤独 means 'lonely' or 'alone.'

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