空 Stroke Order — How to Write 空
空 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 穴, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
空 Radical and Character Components
空 is a phono-semantic compound: 穴 (cave) carries the meaning, while 工 indicates the sound.
Radical: 穴 + 3 more strokes
空 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- kōng
- kòng
- kǒng
Meanings of 空 in Chinese
1
kōng空
Empty, void, or hollow; not containing anything; spacious or vast.
这片草原地势空旷，视野极佳。
This grassland is vast and open, offering an excellent view.
In vain; for nothing; futile, referring to an action or effort that yields no result.
我今天去商场，结果发现它没开门，真是空跑了一趟。
I went to the mall today, only to find it wasn't open; it was a completely wasted trip.
Refers to the space above the ground or related to the air/sky; often used in terms like 'air' or 'sky'.
每天我们需要新鲜空气。
Every day we need fresh air.
2
kòng空
To empty, to leave a space, or to make something available by clearing it.
我需要空出一些时间来完成这个项目。
I need to free up some time to complete this project.
Referring to something empty, unused, or vacant, such as an empty space, vacant position, or unoccupied room.
公司里还有一个空缺，正在招聘新员工
There is still a vacancy in the company, and they are recruiting new employees.
a deficit or shortage, often financial
长期亏空导致公司经营困难。
Long-term deficits led to difficulties in the company's operations.
3
kǒng空
Hole; cavity (similar to '孔')
墙壁上有一个空。
There is a hole in the wall.
Common Words and Phrases with 空
1
2
An unaddressed or unfulfilled aspect, area, or part; a blank spot or gap.
尽管这项研究在许多方面取得了突破，但它在如何实际应用方面仍存在一个空白点。
Although this research has made breakthroughs in many aspects, there still remains a blank spot regarding how to practically apply it.
3
empty and shrunken
这个橘子放了太久，现在已经变得空瘪，没有汁水了。
This orange has been left for too long, and now it has become shrunken and hollow, with no juice left.
4
The jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine, located between the duodenum and the ileum, primarily responsible for nutrient absorption.
医生在手术中检查了患者的空肠，以确保没有阻塞或损伤。
During the surgery, the doctor examined the patient's jejunum to ensure there was no blockage or damage.
5
open and spacious
这间新装修的咖啡馆设计得非常空敞，给人一种放松的感觉。
The newly renovated cafe is designed to be very spacious and open, giving people a relaxing feeling.
6
The Empty Fort Stratagem (kōngchéngjì) is a tactic from ancient China where a commander, facing a stronger enemy with few troops, deliberately presents an undefended city to deceive the enemy into suspecting an ambush and retreating. It now refers to a ploy to mask one's weakness to mislead or deter an opponent, sometimes with a negative connotation.
面对客户突然的提问，小王灵机一动，决定用一招空城计，假装胸有成竹，实则在争取思考时间。
Facing the client's sudden question, Xiao Wang, with a flash of inspiration, decided to employ an 'empty fort strategy,' pretending to be utterly confident while actually buying time to think.
7
Neutral gear; a disengaged position (e.g., in a transmission system).
在等待红灯时，司机通常会将车辆挂入空档。
While waiting at a red light, drivers often shift the vehicle into neutral.
8
Empty, spacious, and deserted; void.
夜深了，街上空荡荡的，连个行人都没有，他心里也感到空荡荡的，有些不知所措。
It was late at night, the street was deserted, not even a single pedestrian, and he also felt a sense of emptiness inside, somewhat at a loss.
9
10
air conditioner
夏天的时候，开空调可以让人感到凉爽舒适。
During summer, turning on the air conditioner can make people feel cool and comfortable.
11
Hollow or empty; a cavity or void, often implying a lack of substance or content.
他的文章内容空洞，读起来让人觉得很无聊。
The content of his article was hollow, making it very boring to read.
12
deserted or empty (of places, rooms, etc.), indicating a lack of people or things.
整个房间空洞洞的，除了几件旧家具，什么都没有了。
The entire room was empty; apart from a few old pieces of furniture, there was nothing left.
13
empty and without substance; hollow and meaningless
这篇文章观点模糊，论证空洞无物，让人读后毫无收获。
This article's views are vague and its arguments are empty and unsubstantial, leaving readers with nothing gained after reading it.
14
Referring to abstract and impractical discussions or theories that lack connection to reality; empty talk.
这场会议的讨论最终变成了空对空，没有达成任何具体方案。
The discussion in this meeting ultimately became empty talk, without reaching any concrete solutions.
More words with 空
- xīng星kōng空starry sky
- líng凌kōng空High up in the air; aloft.
- píng凭kōng空out of thin air; groundlessly
- shēng升kōng空To rise into the air; to levitate.
- tài太kōng空Space
- chèn趁kòng空in one's spare time, when free
- háng航kōng空aviation
- jià架kōng空to bypass, fictional
- jìng净kōng空Clearance
- mài卖kōng空short selling, short
- qíng晴kōng空clear sky
- sī司kōng空Minister of Works
- tián填kòng空Fill in the blanks, Cloze test
- xián闲kòng空free time; leisure time
- xuán悬kōng空Suspended, In mid-air
- záo凿kōng空to explore, to pioneer
- zhēn真kōng空vacuum
- bì碧kōng空the azure sky
- pū扑kōng空find nobody at home, make a fruitless trip
- téng腾kōng空to soar, to leap up
Idioms with 空
- kōng空fèi费cí词shuō说waste words
- kōng空fù腹pián便pián便superficially impressive but inwardly empty
- kōng空fù腹gāo高xīn心arrogant despite lacking real talent
- kōng空gǔ谷chuán传shēng声immediate echo in a deep valley
- kōng空gǔ谷zú足yīn音a rare and welcome sound or person
- kōng空huà话lián连piān篇full of empty talk
- kōng空kōng空dàng荡dàng荡Empty, desolate, or a sense of loss
- kōng空kōng空dòng洞dòng洞empty and hollow
- kōng空kōng空rú如yě也utterly empty or having nothing at all
- kōng空kǒu口wú无píng凭Words alone are no proof
- kōng空qián前jué绝hòu后unprecedented and never to be surpassed
- kōng空qián前wèi未yǒu有unprecedented; never before existed
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Open the tool →Questions about 空
What does 空 mean in Chinese?
空 (kōng) means “Empty, void, or hollow” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 空?
空 has 3 pronunciations: kōng, kòng, kǒng.
How many strokes does 空 have?
空 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 空?
空 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 穴. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 空?
The radical of 空 is 穴, and 空 is a phono-semantic compound.
