Kanji for word "lonely"

dajanacupic

後輩

8 Mar 2015

13

0

• 30 Jul 2015

• #1

Hey,
Can someone tell me is the meaning of this kanji - 寂 lonely? If it is, is it lonely as an adjective and not as a noun? Also, if someone can tell me how is it read I will be so grateful!
Thanks

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 30 Jul 2015

• #2

The kanji 寂 often represents more likely "quiet" as in 静寂. When it's used as an adjective 寂しい[samishii], it means "lonely" or "sad".

 

dajanacupic

後輩

8 Mar 2015

13

0

• 30 Jul 2015

• Thread starter
• #3

Thank you. Can you maybe tell me what kanji is used more often to represent loneliness or solitude?

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

16,758

2,298

• 30 Jul 2015

• #4

Tattoo?

 

dajanacupic

後輩

8 Mar 2015

13

0

• 30 Jul 2015

• Thread starter
• #5

No, just being curious.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 30 Jul 2015

• #6

孤 or 独

孤 - Wiktionary
独 - Wiktionary

 

dajanacupic

後輩

8 Mar 2015

13

0

• 30 Jul 2015

• Thread starter
• #7

Thank you

 

Majestic

先輩

Ten-year veteran

12 Oct 2013

4,072

5,023

• 30 Jul 2015

• #8

An interesting post on this (Japanese only) here
孤独に悩む人は"solitudeとloneliness"の違いを認識すべき - 孤独hack
There is a subtle difference between solitude and loneliness. Usually loneliness carries a sad, negative connotation. Solitude is not inherently sad. Anyway, I think you have enough kanji to think about. Be aware that a single kanji doesn't always capture the essence of the English original. In this case, even a kanji compound might not convey exactly what you intend - not without some explanation.
(And the reverse is true also: English word/words don't always capture the essence of the Japanese original.) Translation is a tricky thing. That's why "google translate" still spits out a lot of garbage.

 

dajanacupic

後輩

8 Mar 2015

13

0

• 30 Jul 2015

• Thread starter
• #9

Yeah, I know what you mean. I think it's normal to expect that you can't always translate one word literally, especially when Japanese culture and language is completely different from English. I cannot stop to be fascinated by that fact. And, as far as Google translate, let's be honest, it's useless.