寡
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: few
💡 Imagine a 'guard' (guǎ) alone under a roof with few people.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
In a Beijing hutong, an elderly man sipped tea alone, his wife long passed. Neighbors whispered, 'He leads a guǎ life'—meaning solitary and few in family. 寡 (guǎ) conveys 'few' or 'widowed', often implying lack or isolation. Its radical 宀 (roof) and components suggest a house with few people. Used in '寡人' (I, the few—an emperor's humble self-reference) and '沉默寡言' (quiet, sparing words).
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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