Japanese word

単身

Pronunciation

Romajitanshin

Meaning

  • nounalone

Example

私は単身で暮らしています。watashi wa tan shin de ku ra shi te i ma su

I live alone.

Illustration for 単身 (alone)

More examples

彼は家族を残して単身で赴任しました。kare wa ka zoku o noko shi te tan shin de fu nin shi ma shi ta

He relocated alone for work, leaving his family behind.

Core concept

Describes being physically on one's own, often with the sense that family members are not accompanying the person.

Common phrases

  • 単身赴任tan shin fu nin

    relocate alone for work

  • 単身で暮らすtan shin de ku ra su

    live alone

  • 単身世帯tan shin se tai

    single-person household

Similar words

一人hitori: Being by oneself or involving only one person in a situation.
独りhitori: The condition of being by oneself and apart from others in daily life.

Definition in Japanese

家族などを伴わず、一人で行動したり暮らしたりすること。ka zoku na do o tomona wa zu hito ri de kō dō shi ta ri ku ra shi ta ri su ru ko to

Word origin

The noun combines 単 (tan, "single") and 身 (shin, "body"), expressing the idea of having only oneself present.

Usage tips

  • 単身 (tanshin) often appears in compounds such as 単身赴任 (tanshin funin), where it contrasts with relocating together with one's family.

Other meanings

  • without one's familynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 単身者tanshinshaperson living alonenoun

Word lists with this word