Kanji

What does the kanji 空 mean?

空 means sky; empty. On'yomi クウ. Kun'yomi そら、あ.く、あ.き、あ.ける、から、す.く、す.かす、むな.しい.

Quick facts
On'yomiクウ
Kun'yomiそら、あ.く、あ.き、あ.ける、から、す.く、す.かす、むな.しい
Strokes8
Main radical穴
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)N4
On'yomi クウKun'yomi そら、あ.く、あ.き、あ.ける、から、す.く、す.かす、むな.しい
N4 · estimated, JLPT framework8 strokes

sky; empty

Memory hook

In a cave (穴) hollowed out by work (工), only wide open space is left — SKY, EMPTY.

Stroke order · 8 strokes

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Common words

  • 空からempty
  • 空そらsky
  • 空きあきvacancy, available space
  • 空くすくto become uncrowded; to become hungry
  • 空くあくto become vacant, to open up
  • 空気くうきair; atmosphere

More words with this kanji

  • 空港くうこうairport
  • 航空こうくうaviation
  • 架空かくうfictional, imaginary; aerial, overhead
  • 真空しんくうvacuum
  • 空中くうちゅうin the air, midair
  • 空想くうそうfantasy, daydream
  • 空っぽからっぽempty
  • 空~くう~sky, aviation, empty (prefix)
  • 上空じょうくうsky above, airspace
  • 大空おおぞらvast sky
  • 空腹くうふくhunger, empty stomach
  • 空間くうかんspace
  • 空ろうつろhollow, vacant, empty
  • 空しいむなしいempty, futile, vain

Look up another word →

Data sources and licences

English meanings, On/Kun readings, stroke counts: KANJIDIC2 — Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group (EDRDG), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Components: KRADFILE (EDRDG). Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. Mnemonics written by GoMe.

Voice: VOICEVOX Nemo.

N5–N1 levels on this page are estimates based on the JLPT framework, drawn from community benchmarks. GoMe Nihongo is not affiliated with the Japan Foundation or JEES, which administer the JLPT.