单独
Traditional: 單獨
dān dú HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我喜欢单独去图书馆。
Wǒ xǐhuān dāndú qù túshūguǎn.
I like to go to the library alone.
他单独完成了这个任务。
Tā dāndú wánchéng le zhège rènwù.
He completed this task by himself.
妈妈让我单独在家。
Māmā ràng wǒ dāndú zài jiā.
Mom let me stay at home alone.
我单独去。
Wǒ dāndú qù.
I go alone.
他单独工作。
Tā dāndú gōngzuò.
He works alone.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 单独 as 'single and alone'—break it down: 单 (dān) means 'single' or 'alone,' and 独 (dú) means 'sole' or 'independent.' Together, they reinforce the idea of doing something solo.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, as well as in spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly used in safety advice, instructions, or descriptions of personal actions, such as in warnings or planning scenarios.

📖 Grammar Points

单独 typically precedes a verb to modify it, as in '单独 + Verb' (e.g., 单独出门). It can also be used in structures like '单独一个人' to emphasize solitude, though this is redundant and less common.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, there is often an emphasis on collective safety and social harmony, so using 单独 in warnings (like the example) reflects a common concern for personal security when alone, especially at night or in unfamiliar settings.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 独自 (dúzì), which also means 'alone,' 单独 often implies a deliberate or situational separation from others, while 独自 can carry a more emotional or habitual connotation of solitude. 单独 is more frequently used in practical or safety-related contexts.

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