空

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 空がきれいです。▶ —
   The sky is beautiful.
2. 青い空が好きです。▶ —
   I like blue skies.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Sora — 空, sky. The sound is Yamato, unrelated to the kanji's Sino readings. The same kanji 空 wears multiple voices — 空気 kuuki (air), 空港 kuukou (airport), 空く aku (to be empty). One kanji, four readings — a depth of Japanese kanji usage. The character itself: hole (穴) + work (工) — the shape of "vacant".

Quick check

1. Among 空 readings, which is for "air" 空気?

   • kuu くう onyomi (kuuki = "air")
   • sora そら kunyomi (sky)
   • kara から kunyomi (empty)
   • aku あく verb stem (to be vacant)