空きコマ
Meaning: A free period or gap between scheduled classes in a university timetable.
空きコマ refers to empty time slots sandwiched between classes during the day. Unlike 全休 (a full day off), 空きコマ is an awkward gap — too short to go home but long enough to feel wasted. Students fill these gaps by studying in the library, eating at the cafeteria, napping, or hanging out. Having too many 空きコマ is considered poor schedule planning.
Examples
- 空きコマに図書館で課題やっちゃおう。 趁空闲课时在图书馆把作业做了吧。Vamos a hacer los deberes en la biblioteca durante el hueco libre.공강 시간에 도서관에서 과제 해버리자.
- 2限と4限の間に空きコマが2つもあってダルい。 第二节课和第四节课之间有两个空闲时段,好烦啊。Tengo dos huecos libres entre la segunda y la cuarta clase, qué pereza.2교시랑 4교시 사이에 공강이 2개나 있어서 짜증나.
- 空きコマで学食行かない? 空闲课的时候去学校食堂吃饭不?¿Vamos a la cafetería de la uni en el hueco libre?공강 시간에 학식 먹으러 안 갈래?
Pronunciation
/a.ki.ko.ma/
Usage Guide
Context: university, friends, schedule planning
Tone: neutral, slightly annoyed
✓ Do Say
- 3限と5限の間、空きコマだからカフェ行こうよ。 (I have a free period between 3rd and 5th — let's go to a cafe.)第三节和第五节之间是空闲课,一起去咖啡店吧。(第三节和第五节之间有空,去咖啡店吧。)Tengo un hueco libre entre la tercera y la quinta clase, vamos a una cafetería. (I have a free period between 3rd and 5th — let's go to a cafe.)3교시랑 5교시 사이에 공강이니까 카페 가자. (3교시와 5교시 사이가 비니까 카페 가자.)
- 空きコマ多すぎて時間の使い方が下手。 (I have too many free periods — I'm bad at managing my time.)空闲课太多了,我真不会安排时间。(空闲时段太多,我时间管理太差了。)Tengo demasiados huecos libres, se me da fatal gestionar el tiempo. (I have too many free periods — I'm bad at managing my time.)공강이 너무 많아서 시간 활용을 잘 못 하겠어. (공강이 너무 많아서 시간 관리가 안 돼.)
✗ Don't Say
- 空きコマを「休講」と言う (Don't call a free period a 'class cancellation' — 空きコマ is your own scheduling gap, 休講 is when the professor cancels)把空闲课说成'停课'是不对的——空きコマ是自己排课产生的空档,休講是教授取消课程Llamar a un hueco libre «clase cancelada» (No confundas un hueco libre con una cancelación de clase: 空きコマ es un hueco en tu propio horario, 休講 es cuando el profesor cancela)공강을 '휴강'이라고 하면 안 된다 (空きコマ는 자기 시간표상의 빈 시간이고, 休講는 교수님이 수업을 취소한 것이므로 의미가 다르다)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 空きコマ with 休講 — 空きコマ is a built-in gap in your schedule, while 休講 is a cancelled class
Origin & History
Compound of 空き (empty/vacant) and コマ (time slot/period, from 齣). コマ is a standard academic scheduling term; the combination became everyday student vocabulary.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern university system, ongoing
Generation: University students
Social background: Universal among Japanese university students
Regional notes: Used at all Japanese universities. Some campuses have dedicated 空きコマ lounges or study spaces.
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