虚しい

• Reading: むなしい
• Romaji: munashii
• Kanji breakdown: 虚 (kyo/muna) — empty, void, hollow
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.na.ɕiː/

Meaning

Empty; void; hollow. Describes a deep sense of futility or emotional emptiness.

An i-adjective expressing a profound feeling of emptiness or meaninglessness. Unlike 空っぽ (karappo, physically empty), 虚しい conveys an emotional or existential void — the sense that something lacks substance or purpose. Often used to describe efforts that feel futile or a life that feels unfulfilled.

Examples

1. 努力が報われず、虚しい気持ちになった。 My efforts went unrewarded, and I was left feeling hollow.
2. 誰もいない部屋で一人で食べるのは虚しい。 Eating alone in an empty room feels so empty.
3. 言い訳を聞いても虚しく感じるだけだった。 Even listening to the excuses just left me feeling hollow.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, literature, self-reflection

Tone: melancholic

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 虚 (kyo/ko, empty/void). The kanji depicts a tiger (虍) over a hill (丘), suggesting something that appears imposing but is hollow inside.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal