destitute and alone; helpless
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadjective
destitute and alone; helpless and living in hardship
literaryOften used to describe elderly people, orphans, or those in miserable situations. Common collocations include 孤苦伶仃 (utterly alone) and 孤苦无依 (with no one to depend on).
Zhè这
wèi位
gū孤
kǔ苦
wú无
yī依
de的
lǎo老
rén人
dú独
zì自
zhù住
zài在
shān山
cūn村
lǐ里
。
This helpless old man lives alone in a mountain village.
Tā他
cóng从
xiǎo小
gū孤
kǔ苦
líng伶
dīng仃
，
kào靠
chī吃
bǎi百
jiā家
fàn饭
zhǎng长
dà大
。
He has been destitute and alone since childhood, and grew up relying on food from many families.
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Gū孤
kǔ苦
de的
lǎo老
rén人
xū需
yào要
shè社
huì会
de的
guān关
ài爱
。
Destitute old people need the care of society.
Zhàn战
luàn乱
zhōng中
，
xǔ许
duō多
hái孩
zi子
biàn变
de得
gū孤
kǔ苦
wú无
yī依
。
In the chaos of war, many children became helpless and alone.