‘独白’ literally means 'alone speech' — combining 独 (dú, 'alone, solitary') and 白 (bái, 'to speak, to state'). It refers to a dramatic device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone or unaware of others listening. Unlike dialogue, a soliloquy reveals inner feelings, motivations, or conflicts directly to the audience, not to other characters.

This term is used primarily in theater, film, literature, and sometimes psychology (e.g., describing self-talk). While it originated in Western drama, it’s widely adopted in Chinese performing arts and literary analysis. It can also appear metaphorically in everyday language to describe extended, one-sided, or introspective speaking — though this usage is less common and slightly literary. The word carries a formal, artistic connotation and rarely appears in casual conversation.