虚しさ

• Reading: むなしさ
• Romaji: munashisa
• Kanji breakdown: 虚 (kyo/muna) — void, empty, vain
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.na.ɕi.sa/

Meaning

Emptiness; hollowness; futility. A feeling that something is meaningless or void.

A noun derived from the i-adjective 虚しい (munashii, empty/vain) by adding the suffix さ to express the state or feeling of emptiness. Describes a deep sense of futility, hollowness, or existential void — stronger and more reflective than simply feeling sad. Often used when reflecting on the pointlessness of effort or the absence of meaning.

Examples

1. 一人で食事をしていると、虚しさを感じることがある。 When I eat alone, I sometimes feel a sense of emptiness.
2. 努力が報われなかったときの虚しさは言葉にできない。 The feeling of emptiness when your efforts go unrewarded is impossible to put into words.
3. 成功しても心の中に虚しさが残った。 Even after succeeding, a hollow feeling remained in my heart.

Usage Guide

Context: introspection, literature, daily life

Tone: melancholic

Origin & History

From the adjective 虚しい (munashii) + さ (sa, nominalising suffix). The kanji 虚 means 'void' or 'empty,' related to the Buddhist concept of 空虚 (kuukyo, emptiness).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal