>孤 =(alone);单 = (single) >孤单 = alone/ solitary ~ >孤=(alone); 独 = (single/alone) >孤独 = alone/ solitary/ unsociable ~ >寂 = quiet; 寞 = deserted >寂寞 = lonely; loneliness - 孤单 mainly describes a physical state of being alone. It can be used to describe a feeling of loneliness, as in "感到孤单" (feel alone = lonely) - 孤独 also describes a physical physical state of being alone. It can be used to describe a feeling of loneliness, as in "感到孤独" (feel alone = lonely), It can also be used to describe a personality, as in "他性恪很孤独" (he is very unsociable) - *You cannot say "他性恪很孤单"* - 寂寞 is mostly an emotion or feeling. You can be surrounded by friends and still feel lonely. For example: "無敵是最寂寞" (unrivaled people are the most lonely people) *People do not physically being 寂寞; being physically 孤单/孤独 (alone) can make you feel 寂寞, but being 寂寞 (lonely) doesn't require being alone* *Actually, feeling 孤单/孤独 (feel alone = lonely) doesn't require physically being alone*