空儿

• Pinyin: kòng r
• Hanzi breakdown: 空 = 穴 (cave) + 工 (work), meaning empty or free; 儿 = simplified from 兒, pictograph of a child, used here as a colloquial suffix

Meaning

Free time; spare time; a gap or opening. Informal way of saying one has time available.

A colloquial noun meaning free time or a time slot when one is not busy. The 儿 suffix gives it a casual, conversational flavour typical of northern Chinese speech. Common in phrases like 有空儿 (have free time) and 没空儿 (don't have free time). Synonymous with 空闲 but more casual.

Examples

1. 你什么时候有空儿？ When do you have free time?
2. 我最近一直没空儿去看电影。 I haven't had time to go see a film recently.
3. 等有空儿的时候，我们一起吃饭吧。 When we have free time, let's have a meal together.

Usage Guide

Context: scheduling, everyday, social

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你明天有空儿吗？(Are you free tomorrow?)
• 我下午有点儿空儿，可以帮你。(I have some free time in the afternoon — I can help you.)

Don't Say

• 请问您有空儿吗？(In very formal situations, 空儿 sounds too casual — use 时间 instead. Say 请问您有时间吗？)

Origin & History

Derived from 空 (empty/free) with the 儿 suffix (erhua), a feature of northern Mandarin that adds a casual, colloquial tone. The original meaning of 空 as 'empty' extends to 'having nothing to do' and thus 'free time.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal