独身

• Pinyin: dú shēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 独 = alone; 身 = pictograph of a pregnant person — the body or self

Meaning

To be single; to remain unmarried or celibate; the state of living alone without a partner.

Used for people who choose to remain unmarried (独身主义 — the belief in remaining single). Carries a more deliberate or philosophical nuance than 单身 (simply being single at the moment). Can also describe monks or nuns living celibate lives.

Examples

1. 他选择独身，认为这样更能专注于自己的事业。 He chose to remain single, believing it would help him focus more on his career.
2. 独身主义在现代年轻人中逐渐获得更多认同。 Choosing to stay single is gaining more acceptance among young people today.
3. 她独身多年，生活简单却充实，令周围人羡慕不已。 She has been single for years; her life is simple but fulfilling, and people around her envy it.

Usage Guide

Context: lifestyle, social trends, philosophy

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她坦言选择独身并非无法找到伴侣，而是对自由生活的主动追求。(She openly stated that choosing to remain single was not a failure to find a partner, but an active pursuit of a free life.)
• 独身者在税收和社会保障方面有时面临一定的政策不平等。(Single people sometimes face certain policy inequalities in taxation and social security.)

Don't Say

• 独身一个人去旅行 — 独身 describes a relationship or life status, not a travel arrangement; say 独自旅行 or 一个人去旅行 instead

Origin & History

独 (alone) + 身 (body/person/self)

Cultural Context

Generation: Millennials/Gen Z

Social background: Universal