空 kōng empty
empty; sky; air
kōng (empty) and kòng (free time) - 天空 tiānkōng, 有空 yǒu kòng
How to remember 空: 穴 hole + 工 work = empty. The treasure hunter stares into the hole after a whole day of hard work and finds it completely empty.
Component breakdown
空 = 穴 hole + 工 work
- 穴 hole
- 工 work
The treasure hunter stares into the hole after a whole day of hard work and finds it completely empty.
How it came to be
A cave mouth with the sides drawn, over work for the sound. A hollow in rock with nothing in it: the character draws the walls, because that is the only way to draw a space.
How it is used
- Two readings. kōng = "empty; sky/air": 空气 (kōngqì) air, 天空 (tiānkōng) sky, 空调 (kōngtiáo) air conditioner, 空间 (kōngjiān) space.
- kòng = "free time / vacant": 有空 (yǒu kòng) to have free time (你有空吗 nǐ yǒu kòng ma are you free?), 空闲 (kòngxián) leisure, 空地 (kòngdì) vacant lot.
- A gap in your day is kòng - 我今天没空 (wǒ jīntiān méi kòng) I'm busy today.
Characters built with 空
Words with 空
- 空调kōngtiáoair-conditionerHSK 3
- 空气kōngqìairHSK 4
- 天空tiānkōngskyHSK 5
- 空中kōngzhōngin the skyHSK 5
- 空间kōngjiānspaceHSK 5
- 太空tàikōngouter spaceHSK 6
- 空地kòngdìvacant landHSK 6
- 空闲kòngxiánleisureHSK 6
- 航空hángkōngaviationHSK 6
- 上空shàngkōngthe skies above a certain placeHSK 7
- 司空见惯sīkōng-jiànguàna common occurrence (idiom)HSK 7
- 时空shíkōngtime and placeHSK 7
- 真空zhēnkōngvacuumHSK 7
- 空前kōngqiánunprecedentedHSK 7
- 空想kōngxiǎngdaydreamHSK 7
- 空白kòngbáiblank spaceHSK 7
- 空间站kōngjiānzhànspace stationHSK 7
- 空难kōngnànair crashHSK 7
- 高空gāokōnghigh altitudeHSK 7
- 空军kōngjūnair forceHSK 9
- 空洞kōngdòngcavityHSK 9
- 空荡荡kōngdàngdàngemptyHSK 9
- 空虚kōngxūhollowHSK 9
- 空隙kòngxìcrackHSK 9
- 钻空子zuānkòngzito take advantage of a loopholeHSK 9
Example sentences
- 还有空房吗？ Hái yǒu kòngfáng ma?Are there any rooms vacant?
- 这里有很多空座位。 Zhèli yǒu hěnduō kōng zuò wèi.There are many vacant seats.
- 他在修理空调机。 Tā zài xiūlǐ kōngtiáojī.He's repairing the air-conditioner.
- 野外的空气真好。 Yěwài de kōngqì zhēn hǎo.The air in the countryside is really good.