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孤儿 (gū ér) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

孤儿 (gū ér) is a Chinese word: orphan. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 孤儿

名 míng noun

orphan

这个孤儿被一个善良的家庭收养了。

zhè ge gū ér bèi yí ge shàn liáng de jiā tíng shōu yǎng le

This orphan was adopted by a kind family.

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Word breakdown

孤 gū — alone, solitary, without parents

Words with this character (5)
  • 1 孤独 gū dú — lonely HSK 6
    • 孤 alone, solitary
    • 独 alone, solitary
    Example

    她在异国他乡常常感到孤独。

    tā zài yì guó tā xiāng cháng cháng gǎn dào gū dú

    She often feels lonely in a foreign land.

  • 2 孤单 gū dān — lonely HSK 7
    • 孤 solitary, isolated
    • 单 single, alone
    Example

    她搬到新城市后常常感到孤单。

    tā bān dào xīn chéng shì hòu cháng cháng gǎn dào gū dān

    She often feels lonely after moving to the new city.

  • 3 孤立 gū lì — isolated HSK 7
    • 孤 alone, solitary
    • 立 stand, be positioned
    Example

    他感到很孤立。

    tā gǎn dào hěn gū lì

    He feels very isolated.

  • 4 孤陋寡闻 gū lòu guǎ wén — ill-informed and inexperienced HSK 7
    • 孤 isolated, cut off from knowledge
    • 陋 narrow, limited in perspective
    • 寡 few, scarce in knowledge
    • 闻 heard, learned, experienced
    Example

    我孤陋寡闻，请多多指教。

    wǒ gū lòu guǎ wén qǐng duō duō zhǐ jiào

    I am ill-informed and inexperienced, please give me your guidance.

  • 5 孤零零 gū líng líng — all alone HSK 7
    • 孤 alone, solitary
    • 零 scattered, fragmentary (intensifies isolation)
    • 零 scattered, fragmentary (reduplication for emphasis)
    Example

    孩子孤零零地坐在公园的长椅上。

    hái zi gū líng líng de zuò zài gōng yuán de cháng yǐ shàng

    The child sat all alone on the park bench.

儿 ér — child, son

Words with this character (42)
Show more (+37)
  • 6 有一点儿 yǒu yì diǎnr — a little HSK 1
    • 有 to have (forms set phrase indicating possession of a small degree)
    • 一 one (emphasizes a small, singular amount)
    • 点 a bit, a point (core element indicating small degree or amount)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (adds colloquial, softening effect)
    Example

    我有一点儿累。

    wǒ yǒu yì diǎnr lèi

    I'm a little tired.

  • 7 这儿 zhèr — here HSK 1
    • 这 this (demonstrative indicating proximity)
    • 儿 colloquial suffix (creates r-colored pronunciation)
    Example

    这儿的天气很好。

    zhèr de tiān qì hěn hǎo

    The weather here is very good.

  • 8 那儿 nàr — there HSK 1
    • 那 that (demonstrative indicating distant location)
    • 儿 colloquial suffix (creates retroflex 'r' ending)
    Example

    我们在那儿见面吧。

    wǒ men zài nàr jiàn miàn ba

    Let's meet there.

  • 9 面条儿 miàn tiáo r — noodles HSK 1
    • 面 flour/wheat, forms the base meaning of noodles
    • 条 strip/strand, indicates the long thin shape of noodles
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (erhua), adds colloquial/Beijing dialect flavor
    Example

    妈妈做了一碗热腾腾的面条儿。

    mā ma zuò le yī wǎn rè téng téng de miàn tiáo r

    Mom made a bowl of steaming hot noodles.

  • 10 一会儿 yí huìr — a moment, a little while HSK 2
    • 一 one; a single (quantifier)
    • 会 moment; while (period of time)
    • 儿 colloquial diminutive suffix
    Example

    我一会儿就回来。

    wǒ yí huìr jiù huí lái

    I'll be back in a moment.

  • 11 女孩儿 nǚ hái r — girl HSK 2
    • 女 female, woman - indicates feminine gender
    • 孩 child - indicates youth or young age
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (erhua) - adds colloquial or endearing tone
    Example

    那个女孩儿很聪明。

    nà ge nǚ hái r hěn cōng ming

    That girl is very smart.

  • 12 小孩儿 xiǎo hái r — child, kid HSK 2
    • 小 small, little
    • 孩 child
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (erhua)
    Example

    这个小孩儿很可爱。

    zhè ge xiǎo hái r hěn kě ài

    This child is very cute.

  • 13 男孩儿 nán hái r — boy HSK 2
    • 男 male, masculine gender
    • 孩 child, the base noun
    • 儿 diminutive suffix, adds colloquial/informal tone
    Example

    这个男孩儿是我的弟弟。

    zhè ge nán hái r shì wǒ de dì di

    This boy is my younger brother.

  • 14 一块儿 yí kuài r — one piece, one unit HSK 3
    • 一 one, single
    • 块 piece, chunk
    • 儿 retroflex suffix (colloquial marker)
    Example

    这是一块儿,不要分开。

    zhè shì yí kuài r bú yào fēn kāi

    This is one piece, don't separate it.

  • 15 聊天儿 liáo tiān r — to chat HSK 3
    • 聊 to chat, to talk casually (main verb component)
    • 天 contributes to the idiomatic meaning of 'chat' (literally 'sky/heaven', but here part of the compound)
    • 儿 erhua suffix adding a colloquial, casual, and friendly tone
    Example

    我喜欢和朋友聊天儿。

    wǒ xǐ huān hé péng yǒu liáo tiān r

    I like to chat with friends.

  • 16 儿童 ér tóng — children HSK 4
    • 儿 child, young person
    • 童 child, youngster (formal/literary)
    Example

    儿童需要充足的睡眠。

    ér tóng xū yào chōng zú de shuì mián

    Children need sufficient sleep.

  • 17 差一点儿 chà yì diǎnr — almost, nearly HSK 4
    • 差 to lack, to fall short
    • 一 one (as a measure)
    • 点 a bit, a little
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (adds colloquial flavor)
    Example

    我差一点儿忘了你的生日。

    wǒ chà yì diǎnr wàng le nǐ de shēng rì

    I almost forgot your birthday.

  • 18 差一点儿 chà (yī) diǎnr — almost HSK 4
    • 差 differ, lack, fall short of
    • 一 one (used as intensifier)
    • 点 point, a little bit
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (softens expression)
    Example

    我差点儿忘了带钥匙。

    wǒ chà diǎnr wàng le dài yào shi

    I almost forgot to bring my keys.

  • 19 干活儿 gàn huór — to work HSK 4
    • 干 to do, to work
    • 活 work, job, task
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (creates retroflex ending)
    Example

    他每天都在田里干活儿。

    tā měi tiān dōu zài tián lǐ gàn huór

    He works in the fields every day.

  • 20 儿女 ér nǚ — children HSK 5
    • 儿 son(s), represents male children
    • 女 daughter(s), represents female children
    Example

    父母都希望儿女幸福。

    fù mǔ dōu xī wàng ér nǚ xìng fú

    Parents all hope their children are happy.

  • 21 幼儿园 yòu ér yuán — kindergarten HSK 5
    • 幼 young, immature (indicates young age)
    • 儿 child (specifies the age group)
    • 园 garden, institution (indicates a place or facility)
    Example

    她明年要上幼儿园。

    tā míng nián yào shàng yòu ér yuán

    She will start kindergarten next year.

  • 22 没法儿 méi fǎr — have no way to; can't help it; impossible HSK 5
    • 没 not have; negation
    • 法 method; way
    • 儿 erhua suffix; adds colloquial tone
    Example

    他不听劝，我也没法儿。

    tā bù tīng quàn wǒ yě méi fǎr

    He won't listen to advice, so I can't help it.

  • 23 儿科 ér kē — pediatrics HSK 6
    • 儿 child/children
    • 科 department/specialty/branch
    Example

    她是一名儿科医生。

    tā shì yī míng ér kē yī shēng

    She is a pediatrician.

  • 24 大伙儿 dà huǒr — everyone HSK 6
    • 大 big, great; emphasizes the inclusiveness of the whole group
    • 伙 group, company; refers to a collective of people
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (erhua); adds a colloquial, friendly tone
    Example

    大伙儿一起努力吧！

    dà huǒr yì qǐ nǔ lì ba

    Let's all work hard together!

  • 25 婴儿 yīng ér — baby HSK 6
    • 婴 infant, newborn baby
    • 儿 child (suffix emphasizing youth)
    Example

    这个婴儿很可爱。

    zhè ge yīng ér hěn kě ài

    This baby is very cute.

  • 26 小偷儿 xiǎo tōu r — thief HSK 6
    • 小 small, petty (adds colloquial tone)
    • 偷 steal, thief (core meaning)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (Beijing dialect flavor)
    Example

    小偷儿偷走了我的钱包。

    xiǎo tōu r tōu zǒu le wǒ de qián bāo

    The thief stole my wallet.

  • 27 少儿 shào ér — children HSK 6
    Example

    这是一本少儿读物。

    zhè shì yì běn shào ér dú wù

    This is a children's book.

  • 28 模特儿 mó tè r — model HSK 6
    • 模 model, pattern (phonetic part of loanword)
    • 特 special (phonetic part completing the sound 'model')
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (adds colloquial, friendly tone)
    Example

    她是一位著名的模特儿。

    tā shì yí wèi zhù míng de mó tè r

    She is a famous model.

  • 29 个头儿 gè tóu r — size HSK 7
    • 个 classifier/measure word indicating individual unit
    • 头 head; in this compound refers to size or dimension
    • 儿 retroflex suffix adding colloquial/informal tone (Beijing dialect)
    Example

    这个西瓜个头儿真大。

    zhè ge xī guā gè tóu r zhēn dà

    This watermelon is really big in size.

  • 30 人缘儿 rén yuán r — popularity HSK 7
    • 人 people (refers to others in social context)
    • 缘 affinity/connection (the social bonds or relationships)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (makes the word more colloquial)
    Example

    他人缘儿很好，大家都喜欢他。

    tā rén yuán r hěn hǎo dà jiā dōu xǐ huan tā

    He is very popular, everyone likes him.

  • 31 冰棍儿 bīng gùnr — popsicle HSK 7
    • 冰 ice, frozen
    • 棍 stick, rod-shaped
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (makes the word colloquial)
    Example

    夏天吃冰棍儿很凉快。

    xià tiān chī bīng gùnr hěn liáng kuai

    Eating popsicles in summer is very refreshing.

  • 32 口哨儿 kǒu shào r — whistle HSK 7
    • 口 mouth (indicates the sound is made with the mouth)
    • 哨 whistle (the main meaning component)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (adds colloquial tone)
    Example

    他吹了一声口哨儿。

    tā chuī le yì shēng kǒu shào r

    He blew a whistle.

  • 33 心眼儿 xīn yǎn r — mind, intention, heart HSK 7
    • 心 heart, mind - represents mental and emotional aspects
    • 眼 eye - represents perception, insight, and understanding
    • 儿 diminutive suffix - adds colloquial, informal tone
    Example

    她是个好心眼儿的人。

    tā shì gè hǎo xīn yǎn r de rén

    She is a kind-hearted person.

  • 34 打盹儿 dǎ dǔnr — to doze HSK 7
    • 打 to do/to engage in (verb prefix)
    • 盹 doze/nap (main meaning)
    • 儿 colloquial suffix (adds informal tone)
    Example

    爷爷喜欢午饭后打盹儿。

    yé ye xǐ huan wǔ fàn hòu dǎ dǔnr

    Grandpa likes to doze after lunch.

  • 35 没准儿 méi zhǔn r — maybe, perhaps HSK 7
    • 没 negation, 'not'
    • 准 certain, accurate
    • 儿 retroflex suffix (colloquial)
    Example

    明天没准儿会下雨。

    míng tiān méi zhǔn r huì xià yǔ

    It might rain tomorrow.

  • 36 玩意儿 wán yìr — thing HSK 7
    • 玩 play, toy (contributes the sense of object or plaything)
    • 意 idea, meaning (serves as a generic noun component)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (adds colloquial, informal tone)
    Example

    这是什么玩意儿？

    zhè shì shén me wán yìr

    What is this thing?

  • 37 离谱儿 lí pǔr — outrageous HSK 7
    • 离 depart from, deviate from
    • 谱 standard, norm, accepted limits
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (colloquial, no semantic meaning)
    Example

    这个价格太离谱儿了。

    zhè ge jià gé tài lí pǔr le

    This price is too outrageous.

  • 38 纳闷儿 nà mènr — to be puzzled HSK 7
    • 纳 to harbor (a feeling in one's mind)
    • 闷 puzzled, perplexed
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (Beijing dialect)
    Example

    我真纳闷儿，他为什么不来。

    wǒ zhēn nà mènr tā wèi shén me bù lái

    I'm really puzzled why he didn't come.

  • 39 绕远儿 rào yuǎn r — to take a detour HSK 7
    • 绕 to go around, to circle
    • 远 far, distant
    • 儿 colloquial suffix (Beijing dialect retroflex ending)
    Example

    为了避开堵车，我们只好绕远儿走。

    wèi le bì kāi dǔ chē wǒ men zhǐ hǎo rào yuǎn r zǒu

    To avoid the traffic jam, we had to take a detour.

  • 40 绕远儿 rào yuǎnr — take a detour / go the long way HSK 7
    • 绕 to go around, to make a circuit
    • 远 far, distant (indicating increased distance)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (colloquial, adds dialectal flavor)
    Example

    从这里走会绕远儿，我们还是走那条近路吧。

    cóng zhè lǐ zǒu huì rào yuǎnr wǒ men hái shi zǒu nà tiáo jìn lù ba

    Going from here will be a detour; let's take that shortcut instead.

  • 41 老伴儿 lǎo bàn r — spouse (of an elderly couple) HSK 7
    • 老 old, elderly (indicates this is a spouse in old age)
    • 伴 companion, partner (core meaning of spouse)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (adds colloquial, affectionate tone)
    Example

    我的老伴儿今天去看医生了。

    wǒ de lǎo bàn r jīn tiān qù kàn yī shēng le

    My spouse went to see the doctor today.

  • 42 胎儿 tāi ér — fetus HSK 7
    • 胎 embryo, the unborn organism in the womb
    • 儿 child, a suffix indicating a young being
    Example

    医生说胎儿发育正常。

    yī shēng shuō tāi ér fā yù zhèng cháng

    The doctor said the fetus is developing normally.

Structure & writing
1 孤 gū — orphaned in childhood; later also referring to having lost both parents

孤 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 子 zǐ — child (son or daughter in ancient usage); now specifically son
Xpinyin
子 is a component in 19 characters
HSK 1
好 hǎo good; satisfactory (opposite of 坏) 字 zì written character; word 学 xué to study; to learn (opposite of 教) 孩 hái young child
HSK 2
游 yóu unfixed; constantly moving
HSK 3
季 jì the youngest among brothers (伯, 仲, 叔, 季 denoting birth order) 李 lǐ plum tree (deciduous tree with white flowers)
HSK 4
仔 zǎi (dial.) young man 厚 hòu thick (of a flat object, opposite of 薄) 存 cún to exist; to be alive 孙 sūn grandchild; relatives of the grandchild's generation
HSK 5
享 xiǎng to possess; to obtain
HSK 6
孕 yùn pregnancy 孤 gū orphaned in childhood; later also referring to having lost both parents
HSK 7
孔 kǒng hole; opening; aperture 孝 xiào to respect and support one's parents 孪 luán twin; born as a pair from one birth 猛 měng fierce; ferocious 籽 zǐ seeds of certain plants
1.2 瓜 guā — gourd or melon plant (vine with palmate leaves, typically yellow flowers, edible fruit; includes watermelon, pumpkin, winter melon, cucumber, etc.)
瓜 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 6
孤 gū orphaned in childhood; later also referring to having lost both parents
HSK 7
狐 hú fox (a mammal with a pointed snout, triangular ears, and a bushy tail, typically reddish-yellow in colour; commonly called 狐狸) 瓣 bàn petal, one of the segments forming a corolla

Stroke order

2 儿 ér — male (of animals)
儿 is a component in 7 characters
HSK 3
养 yǎng to provide for; to support financially
HSK 4
允 yǔn to agree, to approve 兄 xiōng older brother 免 miǎn to remove; to eliminate 竟 jìng to end; to finish 貌 mào appearance, looks
HSK 5
匹 pǐ to match, to equal, to be comparable to

儿 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order