kōng

hollow, empty, deserted, bare

HSK 4 8 strokes
Stroke order animation for 空

Words with this Character

Core Meanings

The character (kōng) primarily means 'empty' or 'hollow,' describing physical emptiness such as an empty box or room. It also refers to 'sky' or 'space above,' often used in poetic or everyday contexts.

Time and Availability

A very common usage of is to express free time or availability, as in "" (I have free time). This usage is essential in daily conversation when arranging meetings or social activities.

Common Collocations

  • 箱子 (empty box): literal emptiness
  • (have free time): availability
  • 天空 (sky): the space above the earth

Usage Notes

When is used to describe time (), it implies the speaker is available and not busy. It is polite and neutral. Avoid confusing with (busy). When describing physical emptiness, can be combined with nouns to specify what is empty.

Confusions

can mean both 'empty' and 'sky,' so context is key. For example, 天空 means 'sky,' while 房间 means 'empty room.'

Example Sentences

这个箱子是空的,没有东西。

Zhè ge xiāngzi shì kōng de, méiyǒu dōngxi.

This box is empty; there is nothing inside.

今天下午我有空,可以一起去看电影。

Jīntiān xiàwǔ wǒ yǒu kōng, kěyǐ yīqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng.

I am free this afternoon; we can go watch a movie together.

天空中飘着几朵白云,显得很空旷。

Tiānkōng zhōng piāozhe jǐ duǒ báiyún, xiǎnde hěn kōngkuàng.

A few white clouds float in the sky, making it look very spacious.