獨

Han character

獨 (Kangxi radical 94, 犬+13, 16 strokes, cangjie input 大竹田中戈 (KHWLI), four-corner 4622₇, composition ⿰犭蜀)

Glyph origin

More information Historical forms of the character 獨, Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) ...

Historical forms of the character 獨
Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

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Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *doːɡ): semantic 犭 + phonetic 蜀 (OC *djoɡ).

Etymology

Perhaps related to 特 (OC *dɯːɡ, “single, alone”); see there for more.

Pronunciation

Definitions

獨

1. alone; single; solitary

   獨自／独自  ―  dúzì  ―  by oneself

   獨奏／独奏  ―  dúzòu  ―  solo

   • 莫見乎隱，莫顯乎微。故君子慎其獨也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     莫见乎隐，莫显乎微。故君子慎其独也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

     Mò jiàn hū yǐn, mò xiǎn hū wēi. Gù jūnzǐ shèn qí dú yě. [Pinyin]

     There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute. Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.

   • 膾炙所同也，羊棗所獨也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     脍炙所同也，羊枣所独也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Kuàizhì suǒ tóng yě, yángzǎo suǒ dú yě. [Pinyin]

     For mince and broiled meat there is a common [liking], while that for sheep-dates was peculiar.

   • 無卿相輔佐足任使者，謂之獨。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     无卿相辅佐足任使者，谓之独。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

     Wú qīngxiàng fǔzuǒ zú rènshǐ zhě, wèi zhī dú. [Pinyin]

     If he has no premier, prime minister, counselors, or assistants who can be given responsibilities, then he is called 'alone.'"

2. the old and childless
3. only

   不獨／不独  ―  bùdú  ―  not only

   唯獨／唯独  ―  wéidú  ―  only; all except

4. (literary) Indicates a rhetorical question: is it possible that...

   Synonyms: 豈 / 岂 (qǐ), 寧 / 宁 (nìng)

   • 子獨不見狸狌乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子独不见狸狌乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Zǐ dú bù jiàn lí shēng hū? [Pinyin]

     Have you not seen a wildcat or a weasel?

5. (in compounds) separatism

   謀獨／谋独  ―  móudú  ―  to plot / scheme for independence

   港獨／港独  ―  Gǎngdú  ―  Hong Kong Independence Movement

   臺獨／台独  ―  Táidú  ―  Taiwan Independence Movement

Compounds

Descendants

References

• “獨”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Kanji

(Hyōgai kanji, kyūjitai kanji, shinjitai form 独)

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 獨 (MC duwk).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [to̞k̚]
• Phonetic hangul: [독]

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

獨

Wikisource 獨 (eumhun 홀로 독 (hollo dok))

1. hanja form^? of 독 (“alone”) [affix]

Proper noun

獨 • (Dok) (hangeul 독)

1. (in news headlines) Short for 獨(독)逸(일) (Dogil, “(South Korea) Germany”).

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Han character

獨: Hán Nôm readings: độc, dọc

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.