孤独(こどく)

孤独(こどく) means loneliness or solitude, functioning as both a noun and na-adjective.

FORMS:

• Na-adjective: 孤独(こどく)な生活(せいかつ) (lonely life)
• Noun: 孤独(こどく)を感(かん)じる (to feel lonely)
• Adverb: 孤独(こどく)に生(い)きる (to live in solitude)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

• 孤独(こどく)を味(あじ)わう: to experience loneliness
• 孤独(こどく)に耐(た)える: to endure solitude
• 孤独(こどく)死(し): dying alone (social issue in Japan)
• 孤独(こどく)感(かん): feeling of loneliness

NUANCE:
Can describe either unwanted loneliness or chosen solitude. Context determines whether negative (lonely) or neutral/positive (solitary).

RELATED:

• 孤立(こりつ): isolation (often forced or circumstantial)
• 寂(さび)しい: lonely (emotional feeling)