duk6 zi6獨自独自
Jyutpingduk6 zi6
Yaleduhk jih
Definition
Alone; by oneself; without anyone else accompanying.
neutralpeopledaily actions
How it's used
While 獨自 is perfectly acceptable in speech, it carries a slightly more formal or literary tone compared to the very common 自己一個. It is often used to emphasize the state of being solitary or independent rather than just the act of being alone. You will frequently hear it in news reports or written narratives, whereas daily conversation leans heavily towards using 自己一個.
Examples
He always likes to travel alone.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 獨自 with 自己. Remember that 獨自 is an adverb that must be followed by a verb, whereas 自己 acts as a pronoun meaning self.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
