孤
Character learning workspace

gū · orphaned

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 孤

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 孤 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

Loading stroke diagrams…

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

8Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

子Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 孤 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 孤

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

gūWords pronounced gū
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 孤 sits in each complete thought.

Tā bú zài, wǒ hěn gū dú.她不在,我很孤独。

I was lonely without her.

Source: Tatoeba #375290 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ gū dān de shí hòu zǒng huì xiǎng qǐ tā.我孤单的时候总会想起他。

I always think of him when I'm alone.

Source: Tatoeba #5574566 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Shí suì shí tā jiù chéng le gū ér.十岁时他就成了孤儿。

He became an orphan when he was ten.

Source: Tatoeba #4760129 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Hǎo jǐ jiān xiǎo wū bèi hóng shuǐ gū lì qǐ lái le.好几间小屋被洪水孤立起来了。

Several cottages have been isolated by the flood water.

Source: Tatoeba #847808 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zài zhè zuò xiǎo zhèn gǎn dào hěn gū dú.我在这座小镇感到很孤独。

I feel lonely in this town.

Source: Tatoeba #9965444 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ méi yǒu wǒ de shǒu jī de shí hòu huì gǎn dào hěn gū dú.我没有我的手机的时候会感到很孤独。

When I don't have my cell phone, I feel lonely.

Source: Tatoeba #1218206 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 孤 in context

  1. Say gū, then recall the core meaning: orphaned.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 孤独 (gū dú), meaning “lonely”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 孤 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.