1.
hollow; cavity; void
A hollow space inside something, such as a cavity in a tree, underground, or in a structure.
木の幹に空洞ができていた。
There was a hollow in the tree trunk.
地下に大きな空洞が見つかった。
A large cavity was found underground.
道路の下に空洞があり、陥没の危険がある。
There is a cavity under the road, and there's a risk of it caving in.
2.
hollowness; emptiness; being hollow in substance
Used figuratively to describe something that has lost its substance or meaning, leaving only an empty shell.
制度が空洞化している。
The system has become hollow.
人材が流出して組織の空洞化が進んでいる。
With talent leaving, the organization is becoming increasingly hollowed out.
産業の空洞化を防ぐために国内投資を促進する必要がある。
We need to promote domestic investment to prevent the hollowing out of industry.
空洞 combines 空 (empty) and 洞 (cave, cavity).
The derived form 空洞化 (hollowing out) is very common in news and economics, referring to the loss of substance in organizations, industries, or institutions — particularly when manufacturing moves overseas (産業の空洞化).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 空洞ができる (a cavity forms)
- 空洞化する (to become hollowed out)
- 産業の空洞化 (industrial hollowing out)
- 地下空洞 (underground cavity)