孤
orphan · alone
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of child and melon. Child like melon.
Symbolism
Loneliness, isolation, orphan. Represents being alone.
Component Breakdown
child + 瓜
Words & Expressions
Words written with 孤
Four-Character Compounds
天涯孤独
てんがいこどく
a person without a single relative
鰥寡孤独
かんかこどく
with no one upon whom to depend; utter loneliness; the lonely and the helpless
孤軍奮闘
こぐんふんとう
fighting alone
孤影悄然
こえいしょうぜん
alone and dejected; lonely and downhearted; lonely and crestfallen
孤城落日
こじょうらくじつ
feeling (looking) lone and helpless; helplessness of those in reduced circumstances
孤立無援
こりつむえん
isolated and helpless; alone and unassisted
狷介孤高
けんかいここう
stubborn and aloof
Anime & Manga
孤高の人
The Climber
A well-known work with 孤 in its Japanese title.
異世界で孤児院を開いたけど、なぜか誰一人巣立とうとしない件
Isekai de Kojiin wo Hiraita kedo, Naze ka Darehitori Sudatou to Shinai Ken
A well-known work with 孤 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
孤雲懐奘
Name contains 孤
Koun Ejō was the second patriarch of the Japanese Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism who lived during the Kamakura period.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 孤 mean in Japanese?
孤 means orphan, alone.
How do you read 孤?
On'yomi: コ (KO).
How many strokes does 孤 have?
孤 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 子 (child).
Is 孤 a good kanji for a tattoo?
孤 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means orphan, alone. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:alone