1.
bare fists; empty hands; unarmed
The state of having nothing in one's hands — no weapons, tools, or resources. Used both literally to mean fighting with bare fists and figuratively to mean starting with nothing.
Literally "empty fists," composed of 空 (empty) and 拳 (fist). Used both in martial arts contexts to mean fighting without weapons and figuratively to describe starting an endeavor with no resources or capital.
Common collocations
- 空拳で戦う: fight bare-handed
- 空拳から始める: start from nothing
- 徒手空拳: completely empty-handed (four-character compound emphasizing total lack of resources)
Similar words
- 素手: bare hands (more common in everyday speech)
- 徒手: empty-handed (often paired with 空拳)
- 丸腰: unarmed (specifically without weapons)
Usage
The four-character compound 徒手空拳 is a well-known expression meaning to have absolutely no resources, capital, or advantages. It is frequently used when describing entrepreneurs who built something from nothing.