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空 (kòng) — (adjective) empty; vacant; (noun) free time; spare time; (verb) to empty; to make empty

Definition

Read as kòng here: an adjective meaning 'free / spare (time)' and a verb meaning 'to empty out'. The kōng reading covers 'empty / sky / air' (空气, 空中). Use 有空 for 'to be free', not 空闲.

adjective
emptyvacant
noun
free timespare time
verb
to emptyto make empty
Easily confused

Examples

  • ？
    Míng tiān nǐ yǒu kòng ma?
    Do you have free time tomorrow?
  • 空。
    Nà ge xiāng zi shì kòng de.
    That suitcase is empty.
  • 空。
    Qǐng bǎ bēi zi kòng yí xià.
    Please empty the cup.

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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