独
独·alone, single, Germany (abbr.)
- On-yomi
- ドク
- Kun-yomi
- ひと(り)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 独立 | どくりつ | independence |
| 独身 | どくしん | unmarried, single |
| 孤独 | こどく | solitude, loneliness |
| 独り言 | ひとりごと | talking to oneself |
Example sentences
兄は去年独立して会社を作った。
あにはきょねんどくりつしてかいしゃをつくった。
My brother went independent last year and started a company.
彼はよく独り言を言う。
かれはよくひとりごとをいう。
He often talks to himself.
都会で孤独を感じる人は少なくない。
とかいでこどくをかんじるひとはすくなくない。
Quite a few people feel lonely in the city.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Writing 独り for every ひとり — the neutral 'one person' is 一人; 独り stresses being alone
- Reading 独身 as ひとりみ when written 独身 — ひとりみ is written 独り身
Memory aid
Picture it
犭 (a beast) beside 虫 (an insect): a solitary animal prowling by itself, with no pack around it.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 独裁どくさいdictatorship
- 独占どくせんmonopoly, exclusive possession
- 孤独こどくloneliness, solitude
- 独占取材どくせんしゅざいexclusive interview/coverage
- 独創どくそうoriginality
- 独自どくじoriginal; unique; one's own; independent
- 単独たんどくsole; independent; single; alone; solo (flight)
- 独身どくしんsingle, unmarried
- 独立するどくりつするto become independent
- 独特どくとくunique; peculiar
- 独りひとりalone, by oneself; single, unmarried
- 独立どくりつindependence, self-support
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 独 mean?