空き

• Reading: あき
• Romaji: aki
• Kanji breakdown: 空 (kuu/a) — sky, empty, vacant
• Pronunciation: /a.ki/

Meaning

Vacancy; opening; empty space. Refers to an unoccupied slot, room, or gap.

A noun derived from the verb 空く (to become empty/available). Commonly used for room vacancies (空き部屋), available time slots, and physical gaps. Also appears in compound words like 空き缶 (empty can) and 空き地 (vacant lot). Distinct from 秋 (autumn), which shares the same reading.

Examples

1. 駐車場に空きがありますか。 Are there any open spots in the parking lot?
2. 来週の空きを確認してください。 Please check for openings next week.
3. 空き缶はこちらのゴミ箱に入れてください。 Please put empty cans in this trash bin.

Usage Guide

Context: hotels, parking, scheduling

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from the verb 空く (to become vacant). The kanji 空 represents sky or emptiness, conveying the concept of an unoccupied space.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal