形单影只 (xíng dān yǐng zhī) — extremely lonely, solitary (idiom) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A literary 成语 meaning 'all alone' — one's shape is solitary, one's shadow is single. Stronger than everyday 孤单, used in writing to describe utter loneliness.

idiom

extremely lonelysolitary (idiom)

Examples

，形单影只，。
Tā dú zì yì rén zài yì xiāng, xíng dān yǐng zhī, shí fēn qī liáng.
He was alone in a foreign land, solitary and utterly desolate.
，形单影只，。
Zì cóng lǎo bàn qù shì hòu, lǎo rén biàn xíng dān yǐng zhī, hěn shǎo chū mén.
After his spouse passed away, the old man became extremely lonely and rarely went out.
，形单影只，。
Zài rè nao de jié rì lǐ, tā fǎn ér jué de xíng dān yǐng zhī, yǔ zhōu wéi gé gé bú rù.
During the lively festival, he instead felt solitary and out of place with his surroundings.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

形单body alone

形xíngbody单dānalone

主谓Subject + predicate

影只shadow alone

影yǐngshadow只zhīalone

主谓Subject + predicate

形单 says the body is alone and 影只 says the shadow is solitary, giving 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

彡彡shān

Sound part声符shēngfú

井

井jǐng形xíng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 單; 单 is its simplified writing.

The form 單 originally pictured a Y-shaped wooden stick with two stones on top.

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

景彡影

Meaning part形符xíngfú

彡彡shān

Sound part声符shēngfú

景

景jǐng影yǐng

Same sound today

影 pairs 景, which gives the sound and also carries the idea of image, with 彡, the part that points to shadow.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

只 shows air coming out of a mouth, for a word used in speech.

Appears in

Emotions & Feelings Idioms & Set Phrases

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