gu1 gaa1 gwaa2 jan4孤家寡人

Jyutpinggu1 gaa1 gwaa2 jan4

Yalegū gā gwá yàhn

名詞

Definition

An isolated person who is cut off from help or has no friends or supporters.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Originally referring to the self-referential title of an emperor, this idiom now describes someone who has alienated everyone around them through their own behavior. It carries a slightly stronger sense of self-inflicted isolation compared to simply being lonely. It is often used to describe someone who has burned bridges rather than someone who is just shy or introverted.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日faat3發pei4脾hei3氣，gaau2搞dou3到zi6自gei2己gu1孤gaa1家gwaa2寡jan4人。

He is always losing his temper, which has left him all alone.

nei5你m4唔soeng2想zou6做gu1孤gaa1家gwaa2寡jan4人zau6就faai3快di1啲tung4同jan4人king1傾gai2偈laa1啦。

If you don't want to be a loner, you should go talk to people.

Common phrases

bin3變dou3到gu1孤gaa1家gwaa2寡jan4人

to become a loner

zou6做gu1孤gaa1家gwaa2寡jan4人

to act as a loner

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe someone who is simply alone or enjoying solitude, as it implies a negative state of being socially ostracized or abandoned by peers.