空洞 (kōng dòng) — (noun) cavity (in the body, especially in teeth… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

空洞 covers both senses here: a physical cavity (esp. in teeth/lungs) and a 'hollow, vacuous' critique of speech or ideas. As an adjective it is sharper on lack of substance than 空虚 (which is more emotional/inner emptiness).

noun

cavity (in the body, especially in teeth or lungs)

adjective

hollowvacuouslacking substance (of speech, writing, ideas)

Measure word · 个

Examples

空洞。
Yī shēng fā xiàn wǒ de yá chǐ yǒu yí gè kōng dòng.
The doctor found a cavity in my tooth.
空洞，。
Tā de yǎn jiǎng nèi róng hěn kōng dòng, méi yǒu xīn yì.
The content of his speech is very hollow and lacks originality.
，。
Nǐ de lǐ lùn tài kōng dòng le, méi yǒu gēn jù.
Your theory is too empty; it has no basis.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

空 “empty” and 洞 “hole” combine to mean a hollow 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.

穴工空

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.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

同

同tóng洞dòng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洞 combines 水 (water) with 同, which gives the sound tóng.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts Illness & Symptoms

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