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空 (kòng) — (of space) vacant, unoccupied; (of time) free, available

Definition

As an adjective, 空 (kòng) means 'vacant, empty, free' — used for both physical space (座位空) and available time (有空). For 'free time / not busy' about a person, 空闲 is the more precise adjective and 闲 is simpler.

(of space) vacantunoccupied(of time) freeavailable
Easily confused

Examples

  • 空。
    Zhè ge zuò wèi shì kòng de.
    This seat is vacant.
  • ，。
    Wǒ míng tiān xià wǔ yǒu kòng, kě yǐ yì qǐ qù gōng yuán.
    I have free time tomorrow afternoon; we can go to the park together.
  • 空，。
    Nà ge fáng jiān yǐ jīng kòng le, nǐ kě yǐ bān jìn qù.
    That room is already vacant; you can move in.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Appears in
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