Definitions

(adjective) alone; single; solitary
(adjective) independent
(adjective) only; sole

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character "獨", composed of the canine radical and the component "蜀", originally conveyed the idea of a solitary animal, with its etymology pointing to lone behavior in the natural world. A simplified form, "独", later emerged, substituting "蜀" with "虫", which represents insects, yet this structural change did not alter the fundamental sense of being alone. Throughout its history, the character's meaning has extended from describing physical solitude to encompassing abstract concepts such as individuality and exclusivity, maintaining its central semantic function across different periods of the language.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

自散步。

Wǒ dúzì sànbù.

I walk alone.

立完成工作。

Tā dúlì wánchéng gōngzuò.

She completes the work independently.

这本书很特。

Zhè běn shū hěn dútè.

This book is very unique.

他感到非常孤

Tā gǎndào fēicháng gūdú.

He feels very lonely.

我是生子女。

Wǒ shì dúshēng zǐnǚ.

I am an only child.

那个国家是裁政权。

Nàge guójiā shì dúcái zhèngquán.

That country is a dictatorship.

我喜欢处,因为这样很安静。

Wǒ xǐhuān dúchǔ, yīnwèi zhèyàng hěn ānjìng.

I like being alone because it is very quiet.

裁统治下,人民无法立思想,只能自忍受孤

Zài dúcái tǒngzhì xià, rénmín wúfǎ dúlì sīxiǎng, zhǐ néng dúzì rěnshòu gūdú.

Under dictatorship, people cannot think independently and can only endure loneliness alone.