孤孑

孤孑

1. (literary) lonely; lonesome

   • 婦人一喪夫，終身守孤孑。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     妇人一丧夫，终身守孤孑。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 9th century, 婦人苦 / 妇人苦, Bai Juyi

     Fùrén yī sàng fū, zhōngshēn shǒu gūjié.

     Once a woman mourns her husband, she stays lonely her entire life.

   • 觀今天下，孤孑憊因莫甚於吾徒者，而又加以與世相違如是，則其末梢之事，將未知如何耳。然若以死生憊因動其平生之志，則焉用學問爲哉？以是自勵己也。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]

     From: 1920, letter by Kim Yeong'ik (金永益)

     Gwan geum cheonha, gohyeol bi in maksim eo o do ja, i u gai yeo se sang wi yeosi, jeuk gi malcho ji sa, jang miji hayeo i. Yeon yak i sasaeng bi in dong gi pyeongsaeng ji ji, jeuk eon yong hakmun wi jae? Isi ja ryeo gi ya. [Sino-Korean]

     Looking at the present world, there are none more lonely and weary than we; and moreover yet, we are so at odds with the world, and we do not know how it will end. But if, due to matters of life and death or weariness, we were to move away from our lifelong cause, what use would we make of our learning? By that, we encourage ourselves.