寂寞
jìmò
The English word lonely is translated into Chinese as 寂寞 (jìmò). Wiktionary also lists 孤獨 / 孤独 (gūdú).
Meaning: of person: unhappy by feeling isolated (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 寂寞 | jìmò |
| 孤獨 / 孤独 | gūdú |
The term 寂寞 is used to describe a subjective feeling of loneliness or emptiness, often used to describe a state of mind or a lack of companionship. It is the more common term used in casual conversation and pop culture (like song lyrics) to express the sadness of being lonely.
Which one should you use?
孤独 can refer to both the emotional feeling of loneliness and the objective state of being solitary or alone.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because 寂寞 is an adjective, it is often preceded by an adverb of degree like 很 (hěn – very) rather than a verb like 'to be' in many sentence structures.
How do you pronounce it?
jìmò
Did you know?
- In modern internet slang, the phrase 单身狗 ('single dog') is a humorous, self-deprecating way to describe the state of being lonely or unmarried.
- In some contexts, saying you are 寂寞 can be a veiled, flirtatious hint that you are looking for romantic companionship.
- While 寂寞 describes the feeling of being lonely, it is also used colloquially to mean 'bored' when there is nothing to do.
Examples in context
- 她的生活很寂寞。She lived a lonely life.This sentence is useful for describing a lonely life using 寂寞.Tatoeba #5411250 by egg0073, translation #310878 by CK
- 我很寂寞。I'm very lonely.This sentence is useful for expressing personal feelings of being lonely with 寂寞.Tatoeba #5091176 by mirrorvan, translation #2649018 by CK
- 从中学的时候我就知道，我能够花很多功夫去学习仅仅是因为我过得很寂寞。I knew since middle school that only because I was so lonely was I able to expend so much energy on studying.This sentence shows how the feeling of being lonely with 寂寞 can motivate someone's actions.Tatoeba #1700169 by sadhen, translation #10276529 by DaoSeng
- 他在异乡感到非常寂寞。He feels very lonely in a foreign land.
- 长时间的独居让她感到孤独。Long periods of living alone make her feel lonely.
- 他在这个陌生的城市里感到孤单。He feels lonely in this unfamiliar city.
- 我一个人在家觉得寂寞无聊。I feel lonely and bored at home.
- 最近没有朋友陪，好寂寞。Lately, without friends to accompany me, I feel very lonely.
- 他失恋了，感觉孤单寂寞。He feels lonely and miserable after breaking up.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jun Jie and Zi Han are talking on the phone at night.
- 俊杰 Junjie梓涵，你现在是一个人吗？Zǐhán, nǐ xiànzài shì yīgè rén ma?Zi Han, are you alone right now?
- 梓涵 Zihan是的，我一个人在房间里，有点寂寞。Shì de, wǒ yīgè rén zài fángjiān lǐ, yǒudiǎn jìmò.Yes, I am alone in my room and feel a bit lonely.
- 俊杰 Junjie别难过，我会一直陪着你的。Bié nánguò, wǒ huì yīzhí péizhe nǐ de.Don't be sad, I will always be with you.
- 梓涵 Zihan谢谢你，俊杰，心里舒服多了。Xièxiè nǐ, Jùnjié, xīnlǐ shūfu duō le.Thank you, Jun Jie, I feel much better now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lonely” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
