Looking up...
空
sora
sky
青い空を見上げた。
I looked up at the blue sky.
formal
The expanse of air and space visible from the earth's surface; the heavens.
空が晴れてきた。
The sky has cleared up.
Commonly used in weather descriptions and poetic contexts.
formal
The air; the atmosphere.
空の色が変わった。
The color of the sky changed.
Often used in combination with other words (e.g., 空模様 'sky condition').
informal
Vacancy; emptiness; free space.
この部屋は空いていますか？
Is this room empty (available)?
Used in contexts like room availability or job openings.
philosophical
In Taoist/Buddhist thought, the void or emptiness as a state of potential or enlightenment.
空の境地に至る。
Reach the state of emptiness (enlightenment).
Refers to the concept of 'wu' (無) in Zen philosophy.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing '空' from '天'
'空' emphasizes the physical expanse of the sky, while '天' (ten) often refers to the sky as a divine or heavenly realm (e.g., 天国 'heaven'). For weather or general sky descriptions, '空' is preferred.
Gold Rule
When to use '空' vs ' vacancy-related words
Use '空' for abstract emptiness (e.g., 心の空 'emptiness of the heart') or physical space (e.g., 空席 'vacant seat'). For concrete objects (e.g., a cup), use '空っぽ' (karappo) or '空いている' (aiteru).
Word Origin
From Old Japanese 'sora', derived from Proto-Japonic '*sora'. The kanji '空' (which means 'empty' or 'sky') was borrowed from Chinese 'kōng' (空), but the Japanese word predates the kanji's introduction. The dual meaning ('sky' and 'emptiness') reflects the Japanese concept of 'ma' (間), where space and absence are interconnected.
Usage Notes
The word '空' is highly polysemous and its meaning depends heavily on context. In everyday speech, it most commonly refers to the sky or weather. In business or social contexts, it can mean 'vacant' or 'available'. The philosophical meaning is less common but appears in literature or spiritual discussions.
Word Breakdown
空
sky / emptiness
root和英辞典