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孤单 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
孤单gūdānloneHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3458, Very Hard
孤单gūdānlonelyHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3458, Very Hard
孤单gūdānlonelinessHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3458, Very Hard
gūdān(gu1dan1)gu dan T1
  1. 1lone
  2. 2lonely
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March 24, 2026

孤单(孤單)gūdān(gu1dan1)

孤单 (gū dān) refers to the state of being alone or lonely. It is often used to express feelings of isolation or solitude, typically with a negative connotation, indicating a desire for companionship or connection.

Strokes16Frequency#3458DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being 孤单 is often viewed with sympathy, and people may express concern for someone who is feeling lonely. This reflects the cultural emphasis on community and relationships, where being alone can be seen as a social issue.

Memory tip

Imagine a lone panda (the character '孤' resembles a panda standing alone) sitting by itself in a vast forest, feeling '单' (single) and lonely. This image helps connect the sound 'gū' with the feeling of loneliness.

Meanings of 孤单

gūdān(gu1dan1)
1lone
2lonely
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About 孤单

孤单Simplified
孤單Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 孤单

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AI study notes for 孤单

Quick Contrast

孤独 (gūdú) vs 孤单 (gūdān): use 孤独 for a broader sense of loneliness that can be more philosophical or reflective, while 孤单 emphasizes a more emotional and negative experience of being alone.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 孤单 with other terms for loneliness, like 寂寞 (jì mò), which can imply a deeper sense of yearning. 孤单 is more casual and often used in everyday conversation. Remember to use it in informal contexts, as it can sound overly dramatic in formal situations.

HSK Study Tips

While 孤单 is not directly listed in HSK vocabulary, it relates to themes of emotions and personal states, which are common in HSK Level 3. Students should focus on understanding its usage in emotional contexts and how it relates to other feelings like sadness (悲伤) or happiness (快乐).

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 孤单 by pairing it with positive contexts, such as '我觉得孤单很舒服' (I feel lonely comfortably), which sounds unnatural. The correct usage would be to express discomfort or a longing for connection, like '我觉得孤单很痛苦' (I find being lonely very painful).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 孤单

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Component characters

孤gūlone
8 strokes子
View full entry
单dānbill
HSK 58 strokes丷
View full entry

How to say lone in Chinese

“lone” in Chinese is孤单gūdān

孤单 (gū dān) refers to the state of being alone or lonely. It is often used to express feelings of isolation or solitude, typically with a negative connotation, indicating a desire for companionship or connection.

When to use 孤单

Be careful not to confuse 孤单 with other terms for loneliness, like 寂寞 (jì mò), which can imply a deeper sense of yearning. 孤单 is more casual and often used in everyday conversation. Remember to use it in informal contexts, as it can sound overly dramatic in formal situations.

孤单 or something close to it

孤独 (gūdú) vs 孤单 (gūdān): use 孤独 for a broader sense of loneliness that can be more philosophical or reflective, while 孤单 emphasizes a more emotional and negative experience of being alone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 孤单 by pairing it with positive contexts, such as '我觉得孤单很舒服' (I feel lonely comfortably), which sounds unnatural. The correct usage would be to express discomfort or a longing for connection, like '我觉得孤单很痛苦' (I find being lonely very painful).

Write 孤单

孤
单

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Frequently asked questions about 孤单

No, 孤单 specifically conveys a sense of loneliness and is not appropriate for positive solitude.

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