空虚

• Pinyin: kōng xū
• Hanzi breakdown: 空 = empty; 虚 = 虍 (tiger) + 业 — void/unreal

Meaning

Empty; hollow; void. Describes a feeling of emptiness, especially emotional or spiritual.

Often describes the psychological state of feeling unfulfilled, purposeless, or lacking meaning. Can also describe things that are superficial or lacking substance. A common theme in discussions of modern life and existential feelings.

Examples

1. 退休后，他感到生活变得空虚无聊。 After retirement, he felt his life became empty and boring.
2. 物质的满足无法填补内心的空虚。 Material satisfaction cannot fill the void inside.
3. 她的生活看似光鲜，内心却无比空虚。 Her life seems glamorous on the outside, but she feels incredibly empty inside.

Usage Guide

Context: psychology, philosophy, literature

Tone: melancholic

Do Say

• 他感到内心很空虚。(He feels very empty inside.)
• 空虚感让她难以入睡。(The feeling of emptiness kept her from falling asleep.)

Don't Say

• 这个盒子很空虚。(Don't use 空虚 for physical emptiness — use 空的; 空虚 is for emotional/spiritual emptiness)

Origin & History

Compound of 空 (empty) + 虚 (void/hollow). Both characters reinforce the meaning of emptiness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal