独 (dú) — alone; by oneself; only; solely
Definition
独 (dú) is a literary/emphatic adverb meaning 'only' or 'alone,' typically placed before the verb or subject for contrast. Unlike 单独/独自 (neutral 'by oneself'), it stresses exclusivity rather than mere solitude; 唯 is its written near-synonym.
adverb
aloneby oneselfonlysolely
Examples
- 独。Zhè jiàn shì dú kào tā yí gè rén shì bàn bù chéng de.This matter can't be accomplished by him alone.
- ，独。Wǒ men jǐ gè dōu qù le, dú tā méi yǒu qù.All of us went, only he didn't go.
- ，。Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng dú yī wú èr, qí tā dì fāng kàn bú dào.The scenery here is unique; you can't see it anywhere else.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.
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