空白

• Reading: くうはく
• Romaji: kuuhaku
• Kanji breakdown: 空 (kū/sora) — empty, sky; 白 (haku/shiro) — white, blank
• Pronunciation: /kɯːhakɯ/

Meaning

Blank; void; vacuum; gap. Denotes an empty space, a missing period of time, or an unfilled position.

Versatile noun used across physical, temporal, and abstract contexts. In documents it means a blank space; in history or biography it refers to an undocumented or inactive period; in relationships or society it indicates a gap or vacuum of power or presence.

Examples

1. 書類の空白欄にご氏名をご記入ください。 Please fill in your name in the blank field on the form.
2. 戦後の十年間は彼の人生における空白の時代だった。 The ten years after the war were a blank period in his life.
3. リーダーが去った後、組織には大きな空白が生まれた。 After the leader departed, a great void emerged within the organization.

Usage Guide

Context: documents, history, relationships, organisations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 空 (kū, empty) and 白 (haku, white). White space in writing came to represent emptiness or absence more broadly.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal