独独 (dú dú) — only (singling out one as the exception, with contrastive emphasis)

Definition

Used in a contrastive clause to single out the one exception: 'only (this one), unlike all the rest.' Often pairs with 都 or 别 to set up the contrast.

adverb
only (singling out one as the exception, with contrastive emphasis)

Examples

  • ，独独。
    Dà jiā dōu tóng yì le, dú dú tā fǎn duì.
    Everyone agreed — only he opposed it.
  • ，独独。
    Bié de huā dū kāi le, dú dú zhè duǒ hái méi kāi.
    All the other flowers have bloomed — only this one hasn't yet.
  • ，独独。
    Suǒ yǒu rén dōu shōu dào le lǐ wù, dú dú tā méi yǒu.
    Everyone received a gift — only she didn't.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

独dúalone
独dúalone

独 means alone; the doubled 独独 gives only or alone with emphasis.

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 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 →

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