The word 孤独 is formed by combining two characters, 孤 and 独, which both independently convey a strong sense of being alone and isolated. 孤 carries the meaning of being orphaned or singular, evoking a feeling of vulnerability and separation from support, while 独 straightforwardly means alone or solitary. By pairing them, the concept is intensified and enriched, creating a composite portrait of a profound, often melancholic, loneliness that is not merely about physical solitude but also implies a deeper emotional or existential state of being detached and adrift.