Meaning
独 means alone, solitary, or independent — the state of standing apart from others without being dependent on them. From the intimate feeling of solitude (孤独) to the political weight of national independence (独立), one character covers a surprisingly wide range of concepts.
独 also serves as an abbreviation for 独逸 — Germany — appearing in compound words and formal writing. You'll find it in 日独 (Japan-Germany relations) and 独語 (the German language). Two unrelated meanings, one character.
Structurally, 独 pairs the 犭 (けものへん) radical — the animal radical — on the left with 蜀 on the right. The 蜀 component once depicted a solitary caterpillar that lives and moves on its own. Combined with the animal radical, the original form 獨 evoked a creature that naturally lives alone. Over centuries of simplification, 獨 became 独 in modern Japanese.
独 has 9 strokes and belongs to Grade 5 of the Japanese elementary school curriculum, typically taught around age 10–11. It is part of the Jōyō kanji list and appears regularly on the JLPT N2 exam.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi ドク (DOKU) appears in almost all compound words. It comes from the Chinese pronunciation and dominates formal vocabulary.
- 独立 (dokuritsu) — independence, autonomy
- 独自 (dokuji) — unique, one's own, original
- 独占 (dokusen) — monopoly, exclusive possession
- 独特 (dokutoku) — unique, distinctive, characteristic
- 孤独 (kodoku) — loneliness, solitude
- 独身 (dokushin) — being single, unmarried status
The surrounding kanji usually make the meaning clear — whether ドク points to aloneness, independence, or Germany.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is ひと(り) [hito(ri)]. The り (ri) is okurigana — the hiragana written after the kanji. This reading appears in everyday, personal expressions about doing something alone.
- 独り (hitori) — alone, by oneself, one person
- 独り言 (hitorigoto) — talking to oneself, muttering
- 独り占め (hitorijime) — keeping something all to oneself
- 独り歩き (hitoriaruki) — walking alone; standing on one's own two feet
ひとり feels intimate and conversational. Use it for personal situations — eating alone, being home by yourself, tackling something without help.
Common Words & Compounds
独 forms compounds across several themes:
Independence & Self-reliance
- 独立 (dokuritsu) — independence, autonomy; used for countries, businesses, and individuals
- 独自 (dokuji) — original, unique to oneself; e.g. 独自の方法 (one's own method)
- 独学 (dokugaku) — self-study, learning without a teacher
- 独断 (dokudan) — arbitrary decision, acting on one's own judgment
- 独走 (dokusou) — running far ahead of the pack; taking a commanding lead
Solitude & Aloneness
- 孤独 (kodoku) — loneliness, solitude; a deeper, more emotional sense of being alone
- 独身 (dokushin) — single, unmarried; e.g. 独身生活 (single life)
- 独居 (dokkyo) — living alone; increasingly common in modern Japan
- 独り言 (hitorigoto) — muttering to oneself, self-talk
Unique & Exclusive
- 独特 (dokutoku) — distinctive, unique; e.g. 独特のスタイル (a distinctive style)
- 独占 (dokusen) — monopoly; also used casually, e.g. テレビを独占する (hogging the TV)
- 独創 (dokusou) — originality, creative uniqueness
- 独壇場 (dokudanjou) — one's exclusive domain; a stage all to oneself
Germany-related
- 独語 (dokugo) — German language (also: talking to oneself)
- 日独 (nichidoku) — Japan-Germany (as in diplomatic relations or joint ventures)
Example Sentences
彼女は独学で日本語をマスターした。
Kanojo wa dokugaku de nihongo wo masutaa shita.
She mastered Japanese through self-study.
一人で旅行するのは楽しい。
Hitori de ryokou suru no wa tanoshii.
Traveling alone is fun.
この会社は市場を独占している。
Kono kaisha wa shijou wo dokusen shite iru.
This company is monopolizing the market.
彼は独自のアイデアで問題を解決した。
Kare wa dokuji no aidea de mondai wo kaiketsu shita.
He solved the problem with his own original idea.
孤独を感じるときは音楽を聴く。
Kodoku wo kanjiru toki wa ongaku wo kiku.
When I feel lonely, I listen to music.
日本は1868年に近代独立国家として発展し始めた。
Nihon wa 1868-nen ni kindai dokuritsu kokka toshite hatten shi hajimeta.
Japan began developing as a modern independent nation in 1868.
彼女は独り言を言いながら料理する癖がある。
Kanojo wa hitorigoto wo ii nagara ryouri suru kuse ga aru.
She has a habit of talking to herself while cooking.
大学を卒業したら独立したいと思っている。
Daigaku wo sotsugyou shitara dokuritsu shitai to omotteiru.
I'm thinking of becoming independent after I graduate from university.
彼の独特なユーモアのセンスはみんなに愛されている。
Kare no dokutoku na yuumoa no sensu wa minna ni aisarete iru.
Everyone loves his distinctive sense of humor.
独身生活にもメリットはたくさんある。
Dokushin seikatsu ni mo meritto wa takusan aru.
Single life has plenty of advantages too.
Memory Tip
Picture a lone worm crawling through the dirt — no companions, just moving on its own. That image is baked into the kanji. The left side 犭 is the animal radical, and the right side 蜀 once depicted a solitary creeping creature. Together they form an animal that roams alone.
For the Germany connection, picture a lone wolf (犭 = animal) crossing the map toward Germany (ドイツ). That wolf travels without a pack, answers to no one, and goes where it pleases. 独 means both alone and Germany — the wolf remembers both.