1.
empty words; falsehood; lie; fabrication
Words without substance or truth; something said that has no basis in reality. Has a somewhat literary or classical tone.
あれは空言にすぎない。
That is nothing but empty words.
彼の約束は空言だった。
His promise was a falsehood.
いくら美しい言葉を並べても、行動が伴わなければ空言に終わる。
No matter how many fine words you line up, without action they end up as empty talk.
A compound of 空 (empty, sky — here meaning 'empty' or 'hollow') + 言 (words, saying). A somewhat literary or elevated word for a lie or empty talk.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 空言を言う: to tell lies, to speak empty words
- 空言にすぎない: to be nothing but empty words
- 空言に終わる: to end up as mere words
REGISTER:
This word has a literary, somewhat classical feel. In everyday conversation, 嘘 (lie) or 口先だけ (lip service) are more common. 空言 tends to appear in written language, formal speech, or proverbs.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 嘘: lie — the most common everyday word for an untruth
- 虚言: falsehood, fabrication — a more formal synonym
- 戯言: nonsense, idle talk — emphasizes absurdity rather than deception