放空 (fàng kōng) — to clear one's mind; to let one's thoughts go blank (as a way to relax); to drive with an empty load (truck, taxi, etc.)

Definition

放空 has two distinct senses: mentally 'clearing one's mind / zoning out' (放松大脑), and for vehicles 'running with an empty load' (no passengers/cargo). The second sense is the source of compounds like 放空车 and 放空炮 (empty talk/promises).

verb
to clear one's mindto let one's thoughts go blank (as a way to relax)to drive with an empty load (truck, taxi, etc.)

Examples

  • ，放空。
    Zhōu mò wǒ xǐ huan qù gōng yuán zuò zuò, ràng dà nǎo fàng kōng yí xià.
    On weekends I like to go to the park and let my mind go blank for a while.
  • 放空，。
    Zhè liàng chū zū chē shì fàng kōng chē, méi yǒu chéng kè.
    This taxi is running empty — it has no passengers.
  • 放空，。
    Bié tīng tā fàng kōng pào, tā shuō de cóng lái zuò bú dào.
    Don't listen to his empty promises — he never follows through on what he says.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

放fànglet go
空kōngempty

放 expresses letting go, and 空 names the empty or blank state.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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