孤单

孤單

gūdān

adjective HSK 7 #3,458

Meanings

1 lonely; alone
2 solitary

Characters

alone; orphaned

Both characters mean 'alone,' creating a word that emphasizes the emotional feeling of loneliness.

Examples

一个人在异国他乡，难免会觉得孤单。

Yī ge rén zài yìguó-tāxiāng, nánmiǎn huì juéde gūdān.

Living alone in a foreign country, it's hard not to feel lonely.

别担心，你不会孤单的。

Bié dānxīn, nǐ bù huì gūdān de.

Don't worry, you won't be lonely.

Tips

usage

孤单 emphasizes the emotional feeling of loneliness, while 孤独 (gūdú) can be more philosophical or profound — being fundamentally alone. 孤单 is what you feel on a Friday night with no plans; 孤独 is an existential state.

Stroke Order

孤 gū

单 dān