guǎ

寡

Character · Adjective · Noun/verb

few; lacking; widow

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

adjective

few; scarce; insufficient

Used to describe quantity or degree, often paired with other characters to form common phrases.

Tā他
píng平
shí时
guǎ寡
yán言
shǎo少
yǔ语
 ,
bù不
tài太
ài爱
shuō说
huà话
 。

He is usually quiet and speaks little, not fond of talking.

Zhè这
zhī支
qiú球
duì队
rén人
shù数
tài太
shǎo少
 ,
guǎ寡
bù不
dí敌
zhòng众
 ,
hěn很
kuài快
jiù就
shū输
le了
bǐ比
sài赛
 。

This team has too few players, outnumbered and lost the game quickly.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
zài在
zhè这
ge个
lǐng领
yù域
gū孤
lòu陋
guǎ寡
wén闻
 ,
wán完
quán全
bù不
dǒng懂
zuì最
xīn新
de的
jì技
shù术
 。

He is ignorant and has limited knowledge in this field, knowing nothing about the latest technology.

Zhè这
chǎng场
wǎn晚
huì会
bīn宾
kè客
liáo寥
liáo寥
 ,
huān欢
jù聚
de的
chǎng场
miàn面
hěn很
guǎ寡
dàn淡
 。

There were very few guests at the party, and the gathering felt dull.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
guǎ寡
dàn淡
de的
tāng汤
shí实
zài在
méi没
shén什
me么
wèi味
dào道
 。

This kind of bland soup really has little flavor.

2.

adjective

bland; tasteless; dull

neutral

Most commonly used to describe food, drinks, or atmosphere with little flavor or interest.

Zhè这
wǎn碗
qīng清
tāng汤
guǎ寡
shuǐ水
de的
miàn面
gēn根
běn本
chī吃
bù不
bǎo饱
 。

This bowl of plain, broth-only noodles is barely enough to eat.

Tā他
de的
yǎn演
jiǎng讲
nèi内
róng容
kōng空
dòng洞
guǎ寡
dàn淡
 ,
tīng听
zhòng众
dōu都
shuì睡
zháo着
le了
 。

His speech was empty and dull, and the audience all fell asleep.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
zhǒng种
guǎ寡
dàn淡
de的
chá茶
shì适
hé合
xià夏
tiān天
yǐn饮
yòng用
 。

This bland tea is suitable for drinking in summer.

Zhè这
bù部
diàn电
yǐng影
de的
jù剧
qíng情
guò过
yú于
guǎ寡
dàn淡
 ,
méi没
yǒu有
liàng亮
diǎn点
 。

The plot of this movie is too dull, with no highlights.

Bù不
yào要
fàng放
tài太
duō多
yán盐
 ,
bǎo保
chí持
tāng汤
de的
guǎ寡
dàn淡
kǒu口
gǎn感
 。

Don't add too much salt, keep the soup's mild taste.

3.

noun/verb

widow; to be a widow

neutral

Can be used as a noun referring to a woman whose spouse has passed away, or as a verb to describe the state of being a widow.

Tā她
zhàng丈
fu夫
qù去
shì世
hòu后
 ,
jiù就
yì一
zhí直
shǒu守
guǎ寡
zài在
jiā家
 。

After her husband passed away, she has been living alone as a widow.

Zhè这
wèi位
guǎ寡
jū居
duō多
nián年
de的
lǎo老
rén人
zhōng终
yú于
yíng迎
lái来
le了
xīn新
de的
shēng生
huó活
 。

This elderly woman who has been widowed for many years finally welcomed a new life.

Show 3 more examples
Gǔ古
dài代
shè社
huì会
zhōng中
 ,
shǒu守
guǎ寡
de的
nǚ女
xìng性
cháng常
cháng常
chéng承
shòu受
jù巨
dà大
de的
yā压
lì力
 。

In ancient society, women who were widowed often endured enormous pressure.

Tā她
guǎ寡
jū居
hòu后
yì一
zhí直
kào靠
zhī织
bù布
wéi维
chí持
shēng生
jì计
 。

After becoming a widow, she made a living by weaving cloth.

Zhè这
bù部
xiǎo小
shuō说
jiǎng讲
shù述
le了
yī一
wèi位
guǎ寡
jū居
nǚ女
xìng性
de的
kàng抗
zhēng争
gù故
shì事
 。

This novel tells the story of a widowed woman's struggle.