orphan, alone
孤 centers on being alone or without close ties: an orphan who has lost parents, or a solitary state of being by oneself.
孤 combines 子 (child) with 瓜, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a gourd-like separation, giving the idea of a child alone or orphaned.
A child (子) beside a gourd (瓜) that looks like a hollow, solitary object: picture a lone child holding a gourd, representing an orphan alone in the world.
For コ, imagine a lonely child (子) calling out 'coo' like a dove: the soft 'coo' sound cues コ while the child remains alone.
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solitude; loneliness; isolation
isolation; being alone; being friendless
orphan
aloof; proudly independent; standing apart; solitary
solitary island; isolated island
being alone; solitude; loneliness
lone (isolated) force; forlorn force
a person without a single relative
Japanese orphans left behind in China (after WWII); war-displaced Japanese in China
orphan works
orphan works
orphanage
sole sword; unarmed but for a sword
solitary castle; isolated castle
feeling (looking) lone and helpless; helplessness of those in reduced circumstances
feeling apprehensive; feeling (looking) lone and helpless; being down-and-out (ruined); helplessness of those in reduced circumstances
isolated stronghold
lone traveller; lone traveler
solitary sailboat
young orphan