独身 dúshēn unmarried
unmarried; single; alone
How to remember 独身: 独 alone + 身 body = unmarried.
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How it is used
- Living single / unmarried by state or choice - 她选择独身 (tā xuǎnzé dúshēn) she chose to stay single.
- 独身主义 (dúshēn zhǔyì) is the term for deliberately opting out of marriage; contrasts with 单身 (dānshēn), which just means currently without a partner.
- More formal and lifelong-sounding than 单身; 独身 leans toward a life stance, 单身 toward a present status.