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March 24, 2026
仃dīng(ding1)
The character 仃 (dīng) refers to the concept of being lonely or solitary. It conveys a sense of isolation and is often used to describe someone who is by themselves or feels a lack of companionship. This word can be employed in both emotional and physical contexts, highlighting the experience of solitude.
Strokes4Radical亻Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of loneliness can be tied to themes of individualism versus collectivism. In traditional contexts, being solitary may be viewed with sympathy, especially in literature that highlights the struggles of solitary figures.
Memory Tip
Imagine a lone figure standing under a vast sky, symbolizing loneliness. The character 仃 is composed of the radical for person (亻) on the left, suggesting an individual, paired with a component that resembles a roof, indicating isolation. Picture this solitary person beneath the empty sky to remember 'dīng' means alone.
Meanings of 仃
dīng(ding1)
1lonely, solitary
2alone
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 仃
仃Simplified
4Strokes
亻Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 仃
Podcast: 仃
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AI Study Notes for 仃
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a lone figure standing under a vast sky, symbolizing loneliness. The character 仃 is composed of the radical for person (亻) on the left, suggesting an individual, paired with a component that resembles a roof, indicating isolation. Picture this solitary person beneath the empty sky to remember 'dīng' means alone.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 仃 with the more commonly used word 孤独 (gūdú) for loneliness. While both relate to solitude, 仃 is less formal and can imply a temporary state. Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing dīng can lead to confusion with other characters.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 0 word, 仃 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists but is useful for understanding concepts related to solitude. Focus on recognizing it in reading contexts and trying to use it in sentences about feelings of isolation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of loneliness can be tied to themes of individualism versus collectivism. In traditional contexts, being solitary may be viewed with sympathy, especially in literature that highlights the struggles of solitary figures.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 仃 to describe physical isolation, but it is more about emotional states. For example, saying '我一个人在家仃' (wǒ yīgè rén zài jiā dīng) is incorrect; instead, say '我一个人在家' (wǒ yīgè rén zài jiā) to simply state 'I am alone at home.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 仃
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Cultural Notes for 仃
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of loneliness can be tied to themes of individualism versus collectivism. In traditional contexts, being solitary may be viewed with sympathy, especially in literature that highlights the struggles of solitary figures.
Word Family of 仃
Words Containing This Character4
孤苦伶仃solitary and impoverished (idiom)
仃dīngalone
伶仃alone and helpless
瘦骨伶仃emaciated
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 孤苦伶仃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 仃
No, 仃 is not frequently used in everyday speech; instead, people might use more common terms like 孤独 (gūdú) for loneliness.
You could say '我感到仃' (wǒ gǎndào dīng) which means 'I feel lonely'.
Yes, synonyms include 孤独 (gūdú) and 孤单 (gūdān), which also refer to loneliness.
