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空白 (kòng bái) — blank space (on a page or form); gap, void (in memory, knowledge, e.g., memory, research, an industry)

Definition

空白 covers two senses: literal 'blank space' on a page/form, and figurative 'gap, void' in knowledge or research. The abstract sense pairs with verbs like 填补 ('fill'), unlike 真空 (a physics/technical vacuum) or 空地 (physical open ground).

noun
blank space (on a page or form)gapvoid (in memory, knowledge, e.g., memory, research, an industry)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 。
    Qǐng zài zhè fèn biǎo gé de kòng bái chù qiān zì.
    Please sign in the blank space on this form.
  • 空白。
    Tā de yán jiū tián bǔ le gāi lǐng yù de yí gè kòng bái.
    His research filled a gap in that field.
  • ，空白。
    Guān yú nà jiàn shì, wǒ de jì yì shì yí piàn kòng bái.
    Concerning that matter, my memory is a blank.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

空kōngempty
白báiblank

空 “empty” and 白 “blank/white” combine to mean a blank 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.

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.