独身

• Reading: どくしん
• Romaji: dokushin
• Kanji breakdown: 独 (doku/hitori) — alone, single; 身 (shin/mi) — body, self
• Pronunciation: /do.kɯ.ɕiɴ/

Meaning

Single; unmarried. Refers to the state of not being married.

A noun and no-adjective describing an unmarried person or the state of being unmarried. Common collocations: 独身生活 (dokushin seikatsu, single life), 独身者 (dokushinsha, single person), 独身貴族 (dokushin kizoku, a carefree single person with disposable income). Can be used neutrally or with positive/negative nuances depending on context.

Examples

1. 彼は30歳だがまだ独身だ。 He's 30 years old but still single.
2. 独身生活は自由だけど時々寂しくなる。 Single life is free, but it gets lonely sometimes.
3. 独身の友達と週末によく旅行に行く。 I often go traveling on weekends with my single friends.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, lifestyle, social topics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 独 (doku, alone/single) and 身 (shin, body/self). Literally 'solitary body/self,' meaning someone who is alone — unmarried.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal