离群索居

離群索居

líqún-suǒjū

idiom #35,911

Meanings

1 to live alone away from the crowd
2 to live in isolation
3 to be a recluse

Characters

alone, solitary

Examples

HSK 4

退休后他选择离群索居，住在山里。

Tuìxiū hòu tā xuǎnzé líqún-suǒjū, zhù zài shānlǐ.

After retiring, he chose to live as a recluse in the mountains.

HSK 5

长期离群索居对心理健康不利。

Chángqī líqún-suǒjū duì xīnlǐ jiànkāng bùlì.

Long-term isolation is bad for mental health.

Tips

history

From 《礼记·檀弓上》: 吾离群而索居，亦已久矣, 'I have left the group and lived alone for a long time now.' Originally Confucius's disciple Zixia lamenting his solitude after a son's death. 索 here means 'alone/solitary,' not 'rope.'

Stroke Order

离 lí

群 qún

索 suǒ

居 jū