Japanese word

単独

Pronunciation

Romajitandoku

Meaning

  • na-adjectivealone

Example

私は単独で旅行します。watashi wa tan doku de ryo kō shi ma su

I travel alone.

Illustration for 単独 (alone)

More examples

この仕事は単独ではなく、チームで進めます。ko no shi goto wa tan doku de wa na ku chī mu de susu me ma su

I will work on this project with a team rather than alone.

Core concept

Focuses on one person or thing acting separately rather than as part of a group or combination.

Common phrases

  • 単独で行動tan doku de kō dō

    act alone

  • 単独で参加tan doku de san ka

    participate alone

Similar words

個別kobetsu: Describes each person or thing as handled separately rather than collectively.
孤立koritsu: Describes being apart from others or from a group.
孤独kodoku: Describes a state of being alone without close companionship.
別個bekko: Describes something as existing separately from other things.

Definition in Japanese

他の人や物と組まず、一つだけで行うことや存在すること。hoka no hito ya mono to ku ma zu hito tsu da ke de okona u ko to ya son zai su ru ko to

Word origin

単独 (tandoku) is a compound of 単 (tan, "single") and 独 (doku, "alone"), with both parts pointing to separation from others.

Usage tips

  • For personal activities, speakers often choose 一人で (hitoride), while 単独 (tandoku) gives the same idea a more formal or organizational tone.

Other meanings

  • solena-adjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word