鰥かん寡か

noun

widow and widower; lonely people

A classical Chinese-derived term for a widower (鰥) and a widow (寡), often used together to evoke the image of solitary, bereaved individuals. In modern Japanese it is a rare literary word, mostly found in old texts or elevated prose.

• 古こ典てんでは「鰥かん寡か孤こ独どく」という四し字じ熟じゅく語ごで、身み寄よりのない人ひと々びとを表あらわすことがある。

  In classical texts, the four-character phrase 鰥寡孤独 is sometimes used to refer to people without family or support.