独自 dúzì alone
How to remember 独自: 独 alone + 自 self = alone.
Characters
How it is used
- Adverb 'alone, by oneself', placed before the verb - 她独自生活 (tā dúzì shēnghuó) she lives on her own; 独自旅行 travel alone.
- Contrast 一个人 (yí ge rén, colloquial 'alone') and 独立 (independent): 独自 is more written and describes doing an action solo, not a character trait.
- Never used as a noun; it always modifies an action.
Example sentences
- 他独自生活。 Tā dúzì shēnghuó.He lives alone.
- 我没有独自做。 Wǒ méiyǒu dúzì zuò.I didn't do it alone.
- 老人独自生活。 Lǎorén dúzì shēnghuó.The old man lived by himself.