孤独

• Reading: こどく
• Romaji: kodoku
• Kanji breakdown: 孤 (ko) — alone, orphaned; 独 (doku) — solitary, alone
• Pronunciation: /ko.do.kɯ/

Meaning

Solitude; loneliness; isolation. Being alone and feeling cut off from others.

A noun and na-adjective describing both the state of being alone and the emotional experience of loneliness. Can be used neutrally (孤独を楽しむ, to enjoy solitude) or negatively (孤独に苦しむ, to suffer from loneliness). Common compound: 孤独感 (feeling of loneliness). Increasingly discussed in the context of modern social isolation.

Examples

1. 都会にいても孤独を感じることがある。 Even in a big city, you can still feel lonely.
2. 彼は孤独な生活を何年も続けている。 He's been living a solitary life for many years.
3. 孤独を恐れずに、自分と向き合う時間を持とう。 Instead of fearing loneliness, let's take time to face ourselves.

Usage Guide

Context: personal feelings, society, literature

Tone: somber

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 孤 (ko, alone/orphaned) + 独 (doku, solitary). Both characters individually mean 'alone,' intensifying the sense of complete isolation.

Cultural Context

Era: Historical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal