KUU (empty, sky)

ASCII Art Representation:

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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.

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