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孤独 (こどく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun, na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
solitude ; loneliness ; isolation
Describes a state of being alone, often with a negative emotional connotation of loneliness, but can also refer to objective isolation. Used as a noun, na-adjective, or no-adjective.
彼かれ は 孤こ 独どく な 生せい 活かつ を 送おく っ て いる 。
He leads a solitary life.
Written forms 孤こ 独どく Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
コドク Usage <1%
Kanji 独 single, alone, spontaneously Similar words 孤こ 立りつ 孤立 emphasizes being cut off from others or lacking support, often in a social or geographical sense, while 孤独 focuses more on the subjective feeling of loneliness or the state of being alone.
寂さび しい 寂しい is an i-adjective expressing a direct emotional feeling of loneliness or missing someone/something, whereas 孤独 is a noun/adjectival noun describing the condition or state of solitude.
Etymology Compound of 孤 (ko, 'orphan, alone') and 独 (doku, 'alone, single'). The combination reinforces the meaning of being solitary or isolated.