空虚(くうきょ)

くうきょ
noun, na-adjective
emptiness; hollowness; vacancy
formalemotion
1. emptiness; hollowness; void
A feeling or state of being empty inside, lacking substance or meaning. Often describes emotional emptiness or the hollow quality of something without real content.
心(こころ)に空虚(くうきょ)を感(かん)じる。
I feel an emptiness in my heart.
大切(たいせつ)な人(ひと)を失(うしな)った後(あと)、空虚(くうきょ)な日々(ひび)が続(つづ)いた。
After losing someone dear, days of emptiness continued.
どれだけ成功(せいこう)しても空虚(くうきょ)感(かん)が消(き)えないのは、本当(ほんとう)にやりたいことをしていないからだ。
The reason the feeling of emptiness won't go away no matter how successful you are is that you're not doing what you truly want.

Usage

空虚(くうきょ) describes a deep emotional or existential emptiness. It is more literary and weighty than simply 空(から)っぽ (empty). It often appears in introspective or philosophical contexts.

Common collocations

Common patterns

Functions as a noun or as a na-adjective (空虚(くうきょ)な).

Related Words

Synonym: 虚無(きょむ) (nihility, void)
Antonym: 充実(じゅうじつ) (fulfillment, substance)
Related: 虚無感(きょむかん) (sense of emptiness)
Related: 虚空(こくう) (empty sky)
Compare: むなしさ (emptiness)
general
Added 2026.3.7 18:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15512_kuukyo