solitude; loneliness; being alone
Describes the state of being alone, often with a nuance of loneliness or isolation. Can be used as a noun or adjectivally with な.
He prefers solitude.
Rare standalone use; more commonly seen in compounds like 孤児 (こじ). This sense is marked as rare.
See also: 孤児
I grew tired of a lonely life.
The 孤 in 孤児 is the same character as in 'orphan'.
solitude; loneliness; isolation
isolation; being alone; being friendless
orphan · person without friends or allies; isolated person
aloof; proudly independent; standing apart; solitary
solitary island; isolated island
lone force; isolated army
sole sword; unarmed but for a sword
solitary castle; isolated castle
isolated stronghold; isolated fort
lone traveler
solitary sailboat; lone sail
young orphan · being alone and weak; helpless solitude
lonely figure; solitary shadow
profound loneliness; deep solitude
only extant copy; sole surviving copy
solitary light; lone lamp
The kanji 孤 originally depicts a child without parents, extended to mean 'alone' or 'solitary'. The reading こ is the on'yomi.