独处 (dú chǔ) — to be alone, to spend time alone (often implying a deliberate choice)

Definition

独处 means being alone deliberately, as a chosen state for reflection or rest — unlike 孤独, which describes an unwanted, lonely feeling.

verb
to be aloneto spend time alone (often implying a deliberate choice)

Examples

  • 独处，。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zài zhōu mò dú chǔ, dú dú shū huò zhě tīng yīn yuè.
    I like to be alone on weekends, reading or listening to music.
  • 独处。
    Yǒu shí hou dú chǔ néng ràng rén gèng qīng chǔ dì rèn shi zì jǐ.
    Sometimes being alone can help you understand yourself more clearly.
  • 独处。
    Tā měi tiān dōu huì ān pái yī xiǎo duàn dú chǔ de shí jiān.
    He sets aside a short period of alone time every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

独dúalone
处chùstay

独 (alone) with 处 (stay) describes spending time by oneself.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →

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