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March 24, 2026
孤gū(gu1)
The character 孤 (gū) conveys the idea of being alone or solitary. It is often used to describe a person who is lonely, an orphan, or to denote the state of being isolated. In contexts such as literature or emotional expressions, it emphasizes feelings of loneliness or abandonment.
Strokes8Radical子Frequency#8354DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 孤 (lonely) often carries a deeper societal implication, reflecting not just personal feelings but also the importance of family and social connections, making loneliness a significant concern.
Memory Tip
Imagine a solitary figure standing alone in a vast empty field, symbolizing loneliness. The character 孤 has the radical '子' (zi), meaning child, suggesting a child left alone, enhancing the imagery of an orphan.
Meanings of 孤
gū(gu1)
1lone
2lonely
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 孤
孤Simplified
8Strokes
子Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#8354Frequency Rank
Podcast: 孤
Podcast: 孤
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AI Study Notes for 孤
Quick Contrast
孤 (gū) vs 单 (dān) — use 孤 when emphasizing emotional loneliness or abandonment, while 单 refers more to being single or solitary in a neutral sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a solitary figure standing alone in a vast empty field, symbolizing loneliness. The character 孤 has the radical '子' (zi), meaning child, suggesting a child left alone, enhancing the imagery of an orphan.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 孤 with 独 (dú), which also means alone but carries a less negative connotation. 孤 is more formal and often used in literature, while 独 is more colloquial. Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a high level tone (gū).
HSK Study Tips
Although 孤 is not an HSK word, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to emotions and states of being, such as 高兴 (happy) and 悲伤 (sad). Focus on using it in context with other emotional vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 孤 (lonely) often carries a deeper societal implication, reflecting not just personal feelings but also the importance of family and social connections, making loneliness a significant concern.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 孤 with the similar-sounding word 孤立 (gūlì), which means to isolate someone or something. Ensure you are using 孤 to specifically describe feelings of loneliness rather than the act of isolating.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 孤
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Grammar Patterns of 孤
孤 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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 5
Complete the Sentence
26分钟之后他一瘸一拐地走出来，显得____单凄凉。
He looked a forlorn figure as he limped off after 26 minutes.
Example Sentences for 孤 (10)
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1
26分钟之后他一瘸一拐地走出来，显得孤单凄凉。
26 26 fēn zhōng zhī hòu tā yī qué yī guǎi dì zǒu chū， lái ， xiǎn dé gū dān。
He looked a forlorn figure as he limped off after 26 minutes.
2
他还简单谈及了他被俘期间忍受的孤独。
tā huán jiǎn dān tán jí le tā bèi fú qī jiān rěn shòu de gū dú。
He also talked briefly about the isolation he endured while in captivity.
Loneliness can be horrible, but it need not remain that way.
9
她分手时说的话让他感觉空虚孤独。
tā fēn shǒu shí shuō de huà ràng tā gǎn jué kōng xū gū dú。
Her parting words left him feeling empty and alone.
10
他并不像看上去的那样孤独无助。
tā bìng bù xiàng kàn shàng qù de nà yàng gū dú wú zhù。
He is not as friendless as he appeared to be.
Cultural Notes for 孤
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 孤 (lonely) often carries a deeper societal implication, reflecting not just personal feelings but also the importance of family and social connections, making loneliness a significant concern.
Word Family of 孤
Compounds1
菰gu1wild rice; Zizania latifolia
Words Containing This Character20
孤独gūdúlonely孤獨
孤gūlone
孤单gūdānlone孤單
孤儿gū’érorphan孤兒
孤儿院orphanage孤兒院
孤立gūlìisolate
孤零零gūlínglínglone
孤身alone
孤岛isolated island孤島
孤注一掷to stake all on one throw孤注一擲
一意孤行willful
孤寡to be lonely
孤军奋战lit. lone army putting up a brave fight (idiom)孤軍奮戰
孤僻antisocial
孤立无援isolated and without help孤立無援
孤寂lonesome
孤老solitary old man or woman
孤陋寡闻gūlòuguǎwénignorant and inexperienced孤陋寡聞
孤苦伶仃solitary and impoverished (idiom)
孤家寡人one who is cut off from others (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 菰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 孤
孤 emphasizes a more negative sense of loneliness, often implying abandonment, while 独 simply means alone without the same emotional weight.
Yes, but it is more commonly found in written or formal contexts rather than casual spoken language.
Yes, one common expression is 孤独 (gūdú), which means solitude or loneliness.
