unknown, 14 strokes, radical 宀, rank #16850, Very Hard
寡
guǎ
scant
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 宀, rank #16850, Very Hard
guǎ(gua3) T3
1widowed; friendless, alone
2few
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March 24, 2026
寡guǎ(gua3)
The character 寡 (guǎ) primarily means 'few' or 'scant,' and is often used to describe a small number of things or a lack of something. It can also refer to being widowed or feeling lonely, reflecting a sense of isolation or a lack of companionship.
Strokes14Radical宀Frequency#16850DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being widowed carries significant emotional weight, and traditional views often emphasize the importance of family and companionship, making the state of being '寡' especially poignant.
Memory Tip
Imagine a widow (the meaning of the character) standing alone in a sparse field. The character 寡 visually resembles a person (the top) looking out over a vast but empty space (the bottom), symbolizing loneliness and scarcity.
Meanings of 寡
guǎ(gua3)
1widowed; friendless, alone
2few
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 寡
寡Simplified
14Strokes
宀Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 寡
Podcast: 寡
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AI Study Notes for 寡
Quick Contrast
寡 (guǎ) vs 少 (shǎo) — use 寡 when emphasizing a lack or scarcity, while 少 simply indicates a smaller quantity.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 寡 with other similar-sounding words. It's important to note that while 寡 can be used formally, it may sound a bit old-fashioned in everyday conversation. Often, it collocates with terms indicating quantity, like '寡言' (quiet) or '寡淡' (bland).
HSK Study Tips
Although not an official HSK word, 寡 can be related to HSK Level 3 vocabulary involving numbers and quantities. Students should focus on how to use 寡 in various contexts, especially in relation to emotions or descriptions of quantity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 寡 with the similar-sounding word '华' (huá), which means 'magnificent' or 'splendid.' Remember, 寡 relates to scarcity or loneliness, while 华 conveys richness and beauty.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寡
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Decomposition of 寡
IDS Structure⿱宀⿱頁刀
寡Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
頁ye4
top
刀Dao1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 寡?
How to say widowed; friendless, alone in Chinese
“widowed; friendless, alone” in Chinese is寡guǎ
The character 寡 (guǎ) primarily means 'few' or 'scant,' and is often used to describe a small number of things or a lack of something. It can also refer to being widowed or feeling lonely, reflecting a sense of isolation or a lack of companionship.
When to use 寡
Common mistakes include confusing 寡 with other similar-sounding words. It's important to note that while 寡 can be used formally, it may sound a bit old-fashioned in everyday conversation. Often, it collocates with terms indicating quantity, like '寡言' (quiet) or '寡淡' (bland).
寡 or something close to it
寡 (guǎ) vs 少 (shǎo) — use 寡 when emphasizing a lack or scarcity, while 少 simply indicates a smaller quantity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 寡 with the similar-sounding word '华' (huá), which means 'magnificent' or 'splendid.' Remember, 寡 relates to scarcity or loneliness, while 华 conveys richness and beauty.
Write 寡
寡
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Practice writing 寡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 寡
寡 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
珀尔并不介意他沉默____言；事实上，她喜欢这一点。
Pearl didn't mind his reticence; in fact she liked it.
Example Sentences for 寡 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
珀尔并不介意他沉默寡言；事实上，她喜欢这一点。
pò ěr bìng bù jiè yì tā chén mò guǎ yán； ； shì shí， shàng ， tā xǐ huān zhè。
Pearl didn't mind his reticence; in fact she liked it.
