孤
orphan, alone
Readings
On'yomi
- コ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
孤 centers on being alone or without close ties: an orphan who has lost parents, or a solitary state of being by oneself.
Most common words using 孤
20 of 55- 孤独こどくN1
solitude; loneliness; isolation
- 孤立こりつN1
isolation; being alone; being friendless
- 孤児こじN1
orphan
- 孤高ここう
aloof; proudly independent; standing apart; solitary
- 孤島ことう
solitary island; isolated island
- 孤こ
being alone; solitude; loneliness
- 孤軍こぐん
lone (isolated) force; forlorn force
- 天涯孤独てんがいこどく
a person without a single relative
- 孤児院こじいん
orphanage
- 孤軍奮闘こぐんふんとう
fighting alone
- 中国残留孤児ちゅうごくざんりゅうこじ
Japanese orphans left behind in China (after WWII); war-displaced Japanese in China
- 孤児作品こじさくひん
orphan works
- 孤児著作物こじちょさくぶつ
orphan works
- 孤剣こけん
sole sword; unarmed but for a sword
- 孤城こじょう
solitary castle; isolated castle
- 孤城落日こじょうらくじつ
feeling (looking) lone and helpless; helplessness of those in reduced circumstances
- 孤城落月こじょうらくげつ
feeling apprehensive; feeling (looking) lone and helpless; being down-and-out (ruined); helplessness of those in reduced circumstances
- 孤塁こるい
isolated stronghold
- 孤客こかく
lone traveller; lone traveler
- 孤帆こはん
solitary sailboat
Study
Etymology
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.
Meaning mnemonic
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.
Reading mnemonic
For コ, imagine a lonely child (子) calling out 'coo' like a dove: the soft 'coo' sound cues コ while the child remains alone.