孤寂 (gū jì) — lonely | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

孤寂 is a written/literary word for a deep, quiet sense of being alone, usually with emotional weight. Stronger and more bookish than the everyday 孤独.

adjective

lonely

Examples

，孤寂。
Tā yí gè rén zhù zài xiāng xia, gǎn dào shí fēn gū jì.
He lives alone in the countryside and feels very lonely.
孤寂。
Zhè jù huà xiě chū le tā nèi xīn shēn chù de gū jì.
This sentence captures the deep loneliness in his heart.
孤寂。
Chéng shì de fán huá fǎn ér ràng tā gèng gū jì.
The city's bustle actually made him feel even lonelier.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

孤 conveys being alone, and 寂 a quiet emptiness, together forming loneliness.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

子瓜孤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

子子zǐchild

Sound part声符shēngfú

瓜

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

孤 uses 子 (child) to show a child, and 瓜 to give the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

宀叔寂

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánhouse

Sound part声符shēngfú

叔

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

寂 is built from 宀, a house, and 叔, which gives its pronunciation.

Appears in

Emotions & Feelings

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