Chinese Character: 孤
1. Character Basics
Radical: 子/子 (zǐ, child/son, indicates related to children or descendants)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gū (First tone)
3. Meaning
Core meaning: Orphan; lonely; isolated; alone; sole; single
This character describes a state of being alone, without family or companions. It can refer to someone who has lost their parents (an orphan) or more generally to anyone who is lonely or isolated.
4. Common Words
- 孤独 (gūdú): lonely; solitude
Example: 他感到很孤独。(Tā gǎndào hěn gūdú.) He feels very lonely. - 孤立 (gūlì): isolated; alone; to isolate
Example: 这个村庄很孤立，没有公路连接。(Zhège cūnzhuāng hěn gūlì, méiyǒu gōnglù liánjiē.) This village is very isolated, with no road connections. - 孤儿 (gū'ér): orphan
Example: 这个孤儿院收养了很多孤儿。(Zhège gū'éryuàn shōuyǎngle hěnduō gū'ér.) This orphanage has adopted many orphans. - 孤单 (gūdān): lonely; alone
Example: 一个人生活有时候会感到孤单。(Yīgè rén shēnghuó yǒushíhòu huì gǎndào gūdān.) Living alone can sometimes feel lonely. - 孤身 (gūshēn): alone; by oneself
Example: 他孤身一人去了北京。(Tā gūshēn yīrén qùle Běijīng.) He went to Beijing all by himself.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of speech: Adjective, Noun
Usage patterns:
- As an adjective: Describes a state of being alone, lonely, or isolated.
- As a noun: Specifically refers to a child who has lost both parents (orphan).
- Common structures:
- 孤 + adjective (e.g., 孤独, 孤单)
- 孤 + noun (e.g., 孤儿, 孤身)
- 孤 + verb (e.g., 孤立)
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, "孤" not only describes a state but also reflects society's concern for vulnerable groups, such as orphans and elderly people without family support.
In ancient Chinese, "孤" was also a self-reference used by emperors, indicating that they were "lonely rulers". This reflected the special status and responsibilities of emperors in traditional Chinese society.
7. Example Sentence
1. 他是一个孤儿，从小在孤儿院长大。
(Tā shì yīgè gū'ér, cóngxiǎo zài gū'éryuàn zhǎngdà.)
He is an orphan who grew up in an orphanage since childhood.
2. 老年人不应该感到孤独。
(Lǎonián rén bùyīnggāi gǎndào gūdú.)
Elderly people should not feel lonely.
3. 那个小岛很孤立，很少有人去。
(Nàgè xiǎodǎo hěn gūlì, hěn shǎo yǒu rén qù.)
That small island is very isolated, few people go there.
8. Memory Tips
- Structure memory: The upper part is "子" (child), and the lower part is "瓜" (melon). You can understand it as "a child growing alone like a melon" or "a lonely child".
- Associative memory: Imagine a child sitting alone in a melon field, feeling lonely. This image can help you remember the meaning of this character.
- Phonetic memory: The pronunciation is the same as "姑" (gū), which can help with memorization.
- Practical memory: Try to use words like "孤独" (lonely), "孤立" (isolated) in your daily conversation to familiarize yourself with the usage of this character.