gu1 fu2 ling4 ding1孤苦伶仃
Jyutpinggu1 fu2 ling4 ding1
Yalegū fú lìhng dīng
Definition
Solitary, miserable, and without any support or family; alone and helpless.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy emotional weight, often used to describe someone who is not just physically alone but also lacks any social support or family ties. It is frequently employed to evoke sympathy or to highlight the tragic nature of a person's situation. Unlike simpler terms for being alone, this phrase emphasizes a state of vulnerability and abandonment.
Examples
Living alone, he is so miserable and helpless.
How can you bear to leave him there all alone and uncared for?
Related words
Common phrases
a lonely and helpless life
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply enjoying solitude or living alone by choice. It specifically implies a lack of support or a pitiable state of being without family or friends.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
