真空

• Pinyin: zhēn kōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 真 = 十 + 目 + 八 (real/absolute); 空 = 穴 + 工 (empty/hollow)

Meaning

A vacuum; a state of absolute emptiness devoid of matter. Also used figuratively for a power vacuum or absence of control.

Used in scientific contexts (physics, packaging) and political/social contexts (权力真空 — power vacuum). 真空包装 (vacuum-sealed packaging) is extremely common in daily life.

Examples

1. 宇宙中的星际空间接近真空状态。 Interstellar space in the universe is close to a vacuum.
2. 食品在真空包装下可以保存更长时间。 Food can be stored much longer with vacuum packaging.
3. 权力真空往往会引发政治动荡与各方争夺。 A power vacuum often triggers political turmoil and a scramble among competing factions.

Usage Guide

Context: science, technology, politics

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 实验需要在真空环境中进行，以排除空气干扰。(The experiment must be conducted in a vacuum environment to eliminate air interference.)
• 政治真空期内，各方势力竞相填补权力空缺。(During the political vacuum, various forces competed to fill the power gap.)

Don't Say

• 这里是完全真空的 — use 这里处于真空状态 or 这里形成了真空; 完全真空的 sounds redundant since 真空 already implies completeness

Origin & History

真 (true/absolute) + 空 (empty/void) — absolute emptiness

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal