Meaning and Usage
The word 空虚 (kōngxū) primarily describes a feeling or state of emptiness, hollowness, or lack of substance. It is often used to express emotional emptiness or a void inside a person, such as feeling lonely or meaningless. It can also describe physical spaces that are empty or bare.
Emotional Context
When used to describe feelings, 空虚 conveys a deep sense of inner emptiness or spiritual void. For example, someone might feel 空虚 after losing a loved one or when life feels purposeless.
Physical Description
空虚 can also describe places or objects that are literally empty or lacking content, such as an empty room or a hollow container.
Common Collocations
- 空虚感 (kōngxū gǎn): a feeling of emptiness
- 内心空虚 (nèixīn kōngxū): inner emptiness
- 感到空虚 (gǎndào kōngxū): to feel hollow or empty
Usage Notes
空虚 is more formal and literary than simply saying empty (空). It often carries a negative or melancholic tone, especially when describing emotions. Avoid confusing 空虚 with 虚假 (xūjiǎ), which means false or fake, despite 虚 alone meaning false. 空虚 focuses on emptiness rather than falseness.