How to say "alone" in Japanese

• 単身たんしんCommon
  adverb, nounCovers 'alone' as 'unaccompanied' or 'unaided', said of a person's situation — someone who goes, stays, or lives somewhere by themselves — more than of a single action done alone.
• だけJLPT N5approx.Common
  particleNot about solitude at all: this is the 'alone' that means 'only' or 'nothing more', as in 'that fact alone is enough'; it is usually written in kana.
  来きたのはメアリーだけだった。↗

  No one came except Mary.
• 一人でひとりでCommon
  expressionCovers being by yourself or doing something on your own — living alone, going to a movie alone; for the solitary sense of 'alone', this is usually the word you want.
  私は彼女かのじょが１人ひとりで行いくのがよいと言いいました。↗

  I suggested that she go alone.
• いっぺんCommon
  noun (suffix)Corresponds to 'alone' meaning 'exclusively' or 'only', not to being by yourself; for that solitary sense it is seldom the word you want, and it is usually written in kana.

For being by yourself or doing something on your own, choose 「一人で」; 単身 describes a person who is unaccompanied or unaided; 「だけ」 and 「いっぺん」 render 'alone' meaning 'only', with 「いっぺん」 rarely the best pick.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 単身たんしんalone
• だけonly
• 一人でひとりでalone
• アローンalone
• 一手にいってにsingle-handedly
• 孑然けつぜんisolated
• 単独でたんどくでindependently
• いっぺんexclusively
• ひとりby oneself