Definition
寡居 is a formal verb meaning 'to live as a widow' — it specifically refers to a woman who has lost her husband and remains unmarried. It's a literary or formal term, not used in casual conversation. You'll encounter it in historical texts, news reports, or legal contexts. The word is not separable (离合词); it stays together as a single unit.
v.
to live in widowhood (formal, of a woman)
Examples
- ，寡居。Tā zhàngfu qùshì hòu, guǎ jū le sānshí nián.After her husband passed away, she lived in widowhood for thirty years.
- 寡居，。Zhè wèi lǎorén guǎ jū duō nián, yìzhí dúzì shēnghuó.This elderly woman has lived in widowhood for many years, always living alone.
- 寡居。Tā guǎ jū qījiān kào jiāoshū wéichí shēngjì.During her widowhood, she supported herself by teaching.
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