孤军 (gū jūn) — isolated force; lone fighter (often used figuratively)

Definition

A military term for a force cut off and fighting alone, now used figuratively for anyone struggling without support. Often pairs with 奋战 or 作战 to stress solitary effort.

noun
isolated forcelone fighter (often used figuratively)
Measure word · 支

Examples

  • 孤军。
    Zhè zhī gū jūn jiān chí dào le zuì hòu.
    This isolated force held out until the end.
  • ，孤军。
    Zài shāng chǎng shàng, tā jī hū chéng le gū jūn.
    In the business world, he has become almost a lone fighter.
  • ，。
    gū jūn Fèn zhàn suī rán kùn nan, dàn tā cóng wèi fàng qì.
    Fighting alone is difficult, but he never gave up.

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.

孤gūalone/isolated
军jūnarmy/force

An '孤' alone '军' army describes an isolated force.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
子子zǐchild
Sound part声符shēngfú
瓜
瓜guā孤gū
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.

Open 孤 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 軍; 军 is its simplified writing.

  • 車車jūcart; chariot
  • 勹勹bāoto surround

In the traditional form 軍, 車 shows the chariot sense, while the part now written 勹 is a sound part, not the 'surround' 勹. Simplified 军 is a later shorthand.

Open 军 →

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