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Kanji 独: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 独: single, alone, spontaneously, Germany

Key takeaways

Kanji 独: single, alone, spontaneously, Germany. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N1

Meaning

singlealonespontaneouslyGermany

On reading

ドクトク

Kun reading

ひと.り

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 独

single, alone, spontaneously, Germany

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

⺨ + 虫

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine a dog (⺨) playing all by itself in a field, chasing after a single small insect (虫). This kanji represents being 'alone' or 'independent,' as seen in words like independence or being single.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ドク
  • 孤独こどく

    loneliness / solitude / isolation

  • 単独たんどく

    alone / solo / independent

  • 独裁どくさい

    dictatorship / despotism

  • 独自どくじ

    original / unique / distinctive

  • 独占どくせん

    monopoly / exclusive control

  • 独創どくそう

    originality / creativity / inventiveness

  • 独身どくしん

    single / unmarried / bachelor

  • 独特どくとく

    uniqueness / distinctiveness

Kun reading

ひと.り
  • 独り言ひとりごと

    talking to oneself

  • 独りひとり

    alone / by oneself / unmarried

Commonly used words

  • 孤独
    こどく

    loneliness / solitude / isolation

  • 単独
    たんどく

    alone / solo / independent

  • 独裁
    どくさい

    dictatorship / despotism

  • 独自
    どくじ

    original / unique / distinctive

  • 独占
    どくせん

    monopoly / exclusive control

  • 独創
    どくそう

    originality / creativity / inventiveness

  • 独り言
    ひとりごと

    talking to oneself

  • 独り
    ひとり

    alone / by oneself / unmarried

Example sentences

Example 1

彼は孤を感じている。

Translation

He feels loneliness.

Example 2

な時間が好きです。

Translation

I like having time alone.

Example 3

彼は単で旅行に行った。

Translation

He traveled alone.

Example 4

飛行は緊張します。

Translation

Solo flying is nerve-wracking.

Kanji 独: single, alone, spontaneously, Germany | Daily Nihongo