zek3 san1隻身只身

Jyutpingzek3 san1

Yalejek sān

副詞

Definition

On one's own; all alone, especially when traveling or undertaking a task.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Focuses specifically on the state of being physically unaccompanied, often implying a sense of bravery or hardship. It carries a slightly more literary or dramatic weight than simply saying 一個人, making it common in storytelling or when describing someone facing a challenge without support.

Examples

keoi5佢zek3隻san1身lau4留喺hai2香hoeng1港，gong2冇mou5人jan4照ziu3顧。

He stayed in Hong Kong all alone, with no one to look after him.

nei5你zan1真hai6係jiu3要zek3隻san1身heoi3去leoi5旅hang4行aa4呀？

Are you really going to travel all by yourself?

Common phrases

zek3隻san1身cin4前wong5往

to head off alone

zek3隻san1身jat1一jan4人

all by oneself

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 隻, which is a measure word for animals or some objects. Learners sometimes mistakenly use it as a general adverb for 'one' or 'single', but it is strictly reserved for the context of being alone or solitary.