me -10/23/95

KUU (empty, sky)

ASCII Art Representation:

                      %%,,
      %               %%%%%
     ,%%              %%%%               ,%%,
    ,%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
   ,%%%%         ,                      %%%%"
  ,%%%%"        %%%%,,    %%,,         %%%"
  "%%%"        ,%%%%"     %%%%%       ,%"
              ,%%%%"      %%%%        "
             ,%%%%"       %%%%            ,
           ,%%%%"         %%%%           ,%,
         ,%%%%"           %%%%%,,,,,,,,,%%%%,
     ,,%%%""              "%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%"
  """""                     """""""""""""""
 
                                     ,%%,
      "%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
                      %%%%
                      %%%%
                      %%%%
                      %%%%
                      %%%%
                      %%%%                 ,%%,
"%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 

Character Etymology:

The top most radical represents hole (lit: hole in a roof) which is held above the bottom-most radical which represents, "to work upon." Originally, this character meant to dig out a hole that would then be covered with a roof to form a primitive dwelling. Since the roof was domed, the idea of empty space within the dwelling naturally became particularly associated with the central vaulted area, and eventually the concept of upper space extended to the sky iteself.

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: KUU
kun-yomi: sora a(ku) a(ki) a(keru) kara su(ku) su(kasu) muna(shii) utsu ki ku

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: utsu ki ku

English Definitions:

1. kuu: air, sky; emptiness; vanity, unreality; hollow; void.
2. su(ku), a(ku): become empty, be less crowded.
3. a(keru): empty.
4. a(ita): open; empty, vacant.
5. a(ki): gap, opening, apeture; space, blank, vacancy.
6. kara: emptiness, hollowness, vacancy, vacuum.
7. kara, kara(ppo): empty.
8. muna(shii): void, empty, vain; ineffectiveness; lifeless.
9. sora: sky, heavens, air, weather, memory, absent-mindedness.
10. utsuke, ukke: emptiness; dumbness.
11. kuu ni: vainly, ineffectively.
12. a(ki)-: empty, vacant, unoccupied, spare (hours)
13. sora-: pretended, sham, mock.

Unicode Encoded Version:

空

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

空箱 (karabako): empty box.
空手形 (kara tegata): empty promise; bad check.
空中 (kuuchuu): air, sky, space.
空気 (kuuki): air.
空色 (sorairo): sky-blue.
空港 (kuukoo): air field, airport.
空襲 (kuushuu): air raid.

  Previous: gold  |  Japanese Kanji  |  Next: moon

Emp"ty (?; 215), a. [Compar. Emptier (?); superl. Emptiest.] [AS. emtig, aemtig, aemetig, fr. aemta, aemetta, quiet, leisure, rest; of uncertain origin; cf. G. emsig busy.]

1.

Containing nothing; not holding or having anything within; void of contents or appropriate contents; not filled; -- said of an inclosure, as a box, room, house, etc.; as, an empty chest, room, purse, or pitcher; an empty stomach; empty shackles.

2.

Free; clear; devoid; -- often with of.

Milton.

I shall find you empty of that fault. Shak.

3.

Having nothing to carry; unburdened.

Shak.

When ye go ye shall not go empty. Ex. iii. 21.

4.

Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; -- said of language; as, empty words, or threats.

Words are but empty thanks. Cibber.

5.

Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; -- said of pleasure, the world, etc.

Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise. Pope.

6.

Producing nothing; unfruitful; -- said of a plant or tree; as, an empty vine.

Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind. Gen. xli. 27.

7.

Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty brains; an empty coxcomb.

That in civility thou seem'st so empty. Shak.

8.

Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty dreams.

⇒ Empty is used as the first element in a compound; as, empty-handed, having nothing in the hands, destitute; empty-headed, having few ideas; empty-hearted, destitute of feeling.

Syn. -- See Vacant.

© Webster 1913.

Emp"ty (?), n.; pl. Empties ().

An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."

© Webster 1913.

Emp"ty, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emptied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Emptying.]

To deprive of the contents; to exhaust; to make void or destitute; to make vacant; to pour out; to discharge; as, to empty a vessel; to empty a well or a cistern.

The clouds . . . empty themselves upon the earth. Eccl. xi. 3.

© Webster 1913.

Emp"ty, v. i.

1.

To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean.

2.

To become empty.

B. Jonson.

© Webster 1913.