Korean word

고독

Pronunciation

Romanizationkodok

Meaning

  • nounsolitude

Example

밤에 혼자 있으면 고독이 찾아온다.pa me hon ja i sseu myeon ko do gi cha ja on da

When I am alone at night, loneliness comes over me.

Illustration for 고독 (solitude)

More examples

이사 후 한동안 고독을 느꼈다.i sa hu han dong an ko do geul neu kkyeot tta

I felt lonely for a while after moving.

Core concept

A deep feeling of being alone or emotionally cut off from other people.

Common phrases

  • 고독을 느끼다ko do geul neu kki da

    feel lonely

  • 고독에서 벗어나다ko do ge seo peo seo na da

    escape solitude

  • 고독을 달래다ko do geul tal lae da

    soothe loneliness

Similar words

외로움oeroum: The feeling of having no close emotional connection, whether alone or among people.
쓸쓸함sseulsseulham: A gentle sadness that comes with silence, emptiness, or someone's absence.

Definition in Korean

혼자이거나 다른 사람과 정서적으로 단절되어 느끼는 쓸쓸한 상태hon ja i geo na ta reun sa ram gwa cheong seo jeo geu ro tan jeol doe eo neu kki neun sseul sseul han sang tae

Word origin

고독 (godok, "solitude") combines Sino-Korean elements for being solitary and alone, linking the word to a feeling of separation from other people.

Usage tips

  • 고독 (godok, "solitude") often sounds weightier than everyday words for loneliness, so it suits reflective writing or serious speech more than casual conversation.

Other meanings

  • lonelinessnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 고독감kodokkkamlonelinessnoun
  • 고독하다kodokadasolitaryadjective

Word lists with this word