How to Write 茕 (qióng) — Meaning “solitary”

Imagine a lonely plant (艹) under a small roof (冖) with two legs (八) standing by itself. This picture of a "solitary" creature helps link the shape to the meaning.

Write the top grass radical 艹 with three strokes: a horizontal line followed by two vertical strokes. The middle part 冖 is written with a short left vertical, a horizontal top, and a right hook. The bottom is two separate falling strokes (left and right), not connected like 八.

茕 has a cover 冖 and a bottom like 八, while 兹 has 玄 below the grass radical and 艻 has 力 (strength) below. Their meanings also differ: 兹 means "now" or "this", and 艻 refers to a type of plant, whereas 茕 means "solitary".

茕 is rare in daily conversation but appears in literary or classical phrases. The common word 茕茕 (qióng qióng) means "lonely and desolate," and the idiom 茕茕孑立 describes someone standing alone and isolated.

Common words containing 茕 include: 茕茕 (qióng qióng) — lonely and desolate; 茕独 (qióng dú) — solitary; 茕居 (qióng jū) — living alone.