孤
orphan; lonely; royal self-reference
Meanings
3 senses · 13 examplesadjective
having lost one or both parents
literaryMost commonly used to describe children who have lost their parents, often used in formal or literary contexts.
This orphan grew up in a welfare home.
The war left tens of thousands of poor orphaned children.
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The government provides free medical services for childless elderly people.
She became an orphaned girl and lived with her grandmother.
This orphanage has taken in more than fifty orphaned children.
adjective
lonely; solitary; alone
Used to describe people, objects, or natural phenomena that are alone with no companions, used in both formal and informal contexts.
A lone wild goose flew across the sky.
This isolated island is far from the mainland and uninhabited.
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He works hard in a foreign land and often feels lonely and helpless.
Relying solely on one's own strength, it is easy to fall into the predicament of one hand clapping no sound.
Late at night, only a single lonely lamp accompanied him.
pronoun
royal self-reference (ancient feudal princes)
archaicAn archaic formal usage, only used by ancient Chinese feudal kings and dukes when referring to themselves, now only appears in historical dramas or classical literature.
This king will go on the expedition in person today.
This king heard about this matter and is very unhappy.
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In ancient costume dramas, feudal lords often refer to themselves as gu.