只身一人

隻身一人
zhīshēnyìrén
idiom #36,773

Meanings

  1. 1 all alone; entirely on one's own
  2. 2 with no companion or support

Examples

Tā zhīshēnyìrén lái dào mòshēng de chéngshì dǎgōng.
She came to an unfamiliar city to work, all on her own.
Zhànluàn hòu tā zhīshēnyìrén táo dào le hǎiwài.
After the war he fled abroad entirely alone.

Tips

usage
A four-character set phrase combining 只身 (zhīshēn, 'a single body / alone') and (one person) for emphasis. Carries a slightly literary, poignant tone — fits stories of migration, hardship, or quiet resolve.
mistakes
Don't confuse (zhī, 'single') here with (zhǐ, 'only'). The 'single body' reading takes the first tone — same as in 只身前往 (zhīshēn qiánwǎng, to go alone).

Stroke Order

zhǐ
shēn
rén