Translation and Meaning of: 空 - kara

The Japanese word 空[から] is a versatile term full of nuances, present in the daily life and culture of Japan. If you have ever wondered about its meaning, translation, or how to use it in sentences, this article will clarify everything in a simple and direct way. We will explore everything from its origin to practical examples, including tips for memorization and interesting facts that make this word so intriguing. Whether for studies or pure curiosity, understanding 空[から] is an important step in learning Japanese.

Meaning and translation of 空 [から]

空[から] is a word that can be translated as "empty" or "nothing," but its meaning goes beyond that. Depending on the context, it can indicate something that is without content, like an empty box, or even an action done without purpose. For example, in the sentence "箱は空です" (hako wa kara desu), the translation would be "the box is empty."

In addition to its literal meaning, から also appears in expressions like "かばんから本を取り出す" (take a book out of the bag), where it indicates origin or starting point. This duality of meanings makes the word useful in various situations, from everyday conversations to more formal texts.

Origin and cultural use of 空[から]

The origin of 空[から] is linked to the kanji 空, which represents "sky" or "emptiness". This character is composed of the radical 穴 (ana, "hole") and 工 (kou, "work"), suggesting the idea of something open or unobstructed. In Japanese culture, the concept of "emptiness" has roots in Buddhism and Zen, where 空 (ku) symbolizes impermanence and the transitory nature of things.

In daily life, から is a common word, appearing in phrases like "からっぽ" (karappo, "completely empty") or in expressions like "空回り" (karamawari, "running in place"). Its frequent use shows how the Japanese language values word economy and precision in meanings.

Tips for memorizing and using 空[から]

An effective way to memorize 空[から] is to associate it with concrete situations, like an empty cup or a room without furniture. Creating flashcards with sentences like "この瓶は空です" (kono bin wa kara desu – "this bottle is empty") also helps to cement the vocabulary. Another tip is to pay attention to animes or dramas where the word appears, as the visual context makes understanding easier.

For those studying Japanese, it is worth practicing the difference between 空[から] and other similar words, such as 空白 (kuuhaku, "blank space") or 空虚 (kuukyo, "emotional void"). Observing these nuances enriches vocabulary and avoids confusion when speaking or writing.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 天空 (Tenku) - Open sky, space above.
• 空気 (Kuuki) - Air, atmosphere.
• 大気 (Taiki) - Atmosphere, the layer of air that surrounds the Earth.
• 宙 (Chuu) - Space (empty); (literally) sky, space between the Earth and the sky.
• 虚空 (Kokuu) - Empty, empty space, abyss.
• 真空 (Shinkuu) - Vacuum, absolute empty space.
• 空白 (Kuhaku) - Blank space, empty (may refer to unfilled space).
• 空間 (Kuukan) - Space, area (referring to physical space).
• 空腹 (Kuhuku) - Empty stomach, hunger.
• 空想 (Kusou) - Fantasy, imagination (creative).
• 空虚 (Kuukyo) - Empty, lack of content or meaning.
• 空席 (Kuuseki) - Empty seat, unoccupied place.
• 空港 (Kuukou) - Airport, a place for the boarding and disembarking of aircraft.
• 空手 (Karate) - Unarmed, unarmed combat technique.
• 空中 (Kuchuu) - In the air, above, airspace.
• 空軍 (Kuugun) - Air force, a military branch that operates aircraft.
• 空っぽ (Karappo) - Empty, with nothing inside.
• 空地 (Kuchi) - Empty lot, vacant space.
• 空前 (Kuuzen) - Unprecedented, without previous examples.
• 空発 (Kuuhatsu) - Empty production, an expression for an idea or concept without foundation.
• 空疎 (Kuso) - Superficiality, emptiness in substance.
• 空模様 (Kumoyou) - Sky conditioning, weather forecast (as sky appearance).
• 空挺 (Kuuttei) - Skydiving, free fall descent.
• 空冷 (Kuu-rei) - Vacuum cooling.
• 空調 (Kuchou) - Air conditioning, temperature control system.
• 空気圧 (Kuukiatsu) - Air pressure, referring to the force exerted by the air.
• 空気感 (Kuukikan) - Feeling of air, atmosphere of a place.

空

Romaji: kara
Kana: から
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: empty

Meaning in English: emptiness

Definition: Empty (empty): A state with nothing.

Example Sentences - (空) kara

See below some example sentences:

彼女を空港まで見送った。

Kanojo wo kuukou made miokutta

I accompanied her to the airport.

I saw her at the airport.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• を (wo) - Direct object particle in Japanese
• 空港 (kuukou) - It means "airport" in Japanese.
• まで (made) - particle that indicates a limit or endpoint in Japanese
• 見送った (miokutta) - verb that means "to accompany to the exit" in Japanese, in the past

架空の世界に入り込むのが好きです。

Kakuu no sekai ni hairikomu no ga suki desu

I like to enter a fictional world.

• 架空 (kakuu) - means "fiction" or "fantasy"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 世界 (sekai) - It means "world".
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 入り込む (irikomu) - verb that means "to enter deeply" or "to dive"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き (suki) - adjective meaning "to like"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality

灰色の空は美しいです。

Haiiro no sora wa utsukushii desu

The gray sky is beautiful.

The gray sky is beautiful.

• 灰色 - gray color
• の - Possession particle
• 空 - sky
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - verb to be in the polite form

煌々と輝く星空が美しいです。

Koukou to kagayaku hoshizora ga utsukushii desu

The bright starry sky is beautiful.

The starry and bright sky is beautiful.

• 煌々と - shiny, sparkling
• 輝く - shine, glitter
• 星空 - Starlit sky
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - pretty, beautiful
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

煙る空気が私たちの目を刺激する。

Kemuru kuuki ga watashitachi no me wo shigeki suru

The smoky air stimulates our eyes.

• 煙る (kemuru) - verb that means "to be smoking, to be fogging"
• 空気 (kuuki) - noun that means "air"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 私たち (watashitachi) - pronoun that means "we"
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 目 (me) - noun that means "eyes"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 刺激する (shigeki suru) - verb that means "to stimulate, to irritate"

白い雲が空に浮かんでいる。

Shiroi kumo ga sora ni ukande iru

A white cloud is floating in the sky.

• 白い - adjective that means "white"
• 雲 - noun meaning "cloud"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 空 - noun meaning "heaven"
• に - particle indicating the place where something is happening
• 浮かんでいる - verb meaning "floating" (in present continuous)

私の財布は空っぽです。

Watashi no saifu wa karappo desu

My wallet is empty.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my"
• 財布 (saifu) - noun that means "wallet"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the wallet"
• 空っぽ (karappo) - adjective that means "empty"
• です (desu) - verb to be in the present, in this case, "is"

私は道場で空手を習っています。

Watashi wa dōjō de karate o naratteimasu

I am learning karate in Dojo.

I'm learning karate in Dojo.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 道場 (doujou) - noun that means "dojo," a place for martial arts training
• で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the place where an action occurs
• 空手 (karate) - noun meaning "karate", a Japanese martial art
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 習っています (naratteimasu) - verb meaning "I'm learning"

空想は現実になる可能性がある。

Kuusou wa genjitsu ni naru kanousei ga aru

Fantasy can be a reality.

• 空想 (kuusou) - it means "fantasy" or "imagination"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 現実 (genjitsu) - means "reality"
• に (ni) - Grammatical marker that indicates the location or target of the action
• なる (naru) - verb meaning "to become"
• 可能性 (kanousei) - It means "possibility".
• が (ga) - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• ある (aru) - Verb that means "to exist"

空中に浮かぶ風船がきれいです。

Kuuchuu ni ukabu fuusen ga kirei desu

The balloon floating in the air is beautiful.

• 空中に - indicates that something is in the air or in space
• 浮かぶ - verb that means to float
• 風船 - substantive that means balloon
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• きれい - adjective that means beautiful or clean
• です - verb that indicates the existence or state of something, in this case, the beauty of the balloons