寂寞 jìmò lonely
lonely; lonesome; (of a place) quiet; silent
How to remember 寂寞: 寂 still + 寞 silent = lonely.
Characters
How it is used
- Lonely / lonesome - the quiet emptiness of being alone: 一个人在家很寂寞 (yí ge rén zài jiā hěn jìmò) home alone feels lonely.
- Contrast 孤独 (gūdú), the deeper, more existential aloneness; 寂寞 is closer to bored, restless quiet and a longing for company.
- Also describes a still, silent place. Emotional register, common in songs.
Example sentences
- 我很寂寞。 Wǒ hěn jìmò.I'm very lonely.
- 她的生活很寂寞。 Tā de shēnghuó hěn jìmò.She lived a lonely life.