空儿 (kòng r) — free time, spare time; room, space (unoccupied area); chance, opportunity

Definition

Spoken noun meaning 'free time' or 'a moment to spare' (你没空儿吗?). The 'space' sense is rare in modern use; for physical room, learners usually meet 空间.

noun
free timespare timeroomspace (unoccupied area)chanceopportunity

Examples

  • 空儿，。
    Jīn tiān xià wǔ wǒ méi yǒu kòng r, míng tiān zài shuō ba.
    I don't have free time this afternoon; let's talk about it tomorrow.
  • ，空儿。
    Zhè ge guì zi tài mǎn le, yì diǎn kòng r dōu méi yǒu.
    This cabinet is too full—there's no room at all.
  • ，？
    Nǐ yào shi yǒu kòng r, néng bāng wǒ gǎi yí xià lùn wén ma?
    If you have a chance, could you help me revise my paper?

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

空kōngfree
儿ér儿化

空 (free) with 儿 forms everyday spare time or space.

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
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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →

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