空(から)

から
noun
empty; emptiness
1. empty; emptiness; nothing inside
The state of a container, vessel, or space holding nothing. Used as a noun, as a predicate (with だ), and as a prefix in compounds.
コップが空(から)になった。
The cup became empty.
財布(さいふ)は空(から)だった。
My wallet was empty.
箱(はこ)を開(あ)けたら中身(なかみ)が空(から)で、贈(おく)り主(ぬし)に連絡(れんらく)した。
When I opened the box it was empty inside, so I contacted the sender.

Distinct from the same kanji 空(そら) (sky) and 空(くう) (sky, void, vacuum). The reading から refers specifically to physical emptiness of a container or space.

GRAMMAR:
Predicative: 空(から)だ ('is empty'). Often expressed as becoming empty with なる: 空(から)になる.

COMMON COMPOUNDS (空(から)-prefix):

  • 空(から)手(て): empty-handed (also 'karate')
  • 空(から)箱(ばこ): empty box
  • 空(から)瓶(びん): empty bottle
  • 空(から)回(まわ)り: spinning in vain, futile effort
  • 空(から)元気(げんき): forced cheerfulness

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 空(くう): emptiness, void — abstract or Buddhist sense
  • 無(む): nothing, nothingness — more philosophical
  • 空(あ)く: to become empty/vacant (verb) — for seats, rooms, time slots
general
Added 2026.5.15 13:12
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