Comparison of "单独" and "独自"

In Chinese, both "单独" (dāndú) and "独自" (dúzì) relate to solitude or independence, but they are used in different contexts and have nuanced differences in meaning.

单独 (dāndú)

"单独" is an adjective or adverb that means "alone" or "separate". It is used to describe something happening without the involvement of others or being detached from the rest.

• For example: He prefers to work alone. - 他喜欢单独工作。(Tā xǐhuān dāndú gōngzuò.)
• For example: It was a separate decision. - 这是一个单独的决定。(Zhè shì yīgè dāndú de juédìng.)

独自 (dúzì)

"独自" is an adverb that means "alone", "by oneself", or "on one's own". It indicates that someone is doing something without the accompaniment or assistance of others.

• For example: He went home alone. - 他独自回家了。(Tā dúzì huíjiāle.)
• For example: She managed to complete the task on her own. - 她独自完成了这个任务。(Tā dúzì wánchéngle zhège rènwù.)

Main Differences

• Focus: "单独" emphasizes being alone or separate from others, while "独自" emphasizes the action being done alone or independently.
• Usage: "单独" describes a state or condition, whereas "独自" describes an action or situation where someone is alone or acting independently.