duk6 san1獨身独身
Jyutpingduk6 san1
Yaleduhk sān
Definition
Single; unmarried or not in a relationship.
neutralpeople
How it's used
While 獨身 and 單身 are often interchangeable, 獨身 carries a slightly more formal or descriptive tone, often used in written contexts or when discussing one's life status seriously. In casual conversation, people almost exclusively prefer 單身 to describe their relationship status. Using 獨身 can sometimes sound a bit clinical or like a status on a government form.
Examples
He is still single at fifty.
Related words
Common phrases
celibacy or the choice to remain single
a single person who enjoys a high-quality, independent lifestyle
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 獨居, which specifically means living alone. A person can be 獨身 but live with their parents or roommates.
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.
