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空しくなる (むなしくなる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

空むなしくなる

む

な

し

く

な

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru)

die; pass away; expire

Literary or euphemistic expression for dying; literally 'become empty'. Used in formal or poetic contexts.

彼かれは静しずかに空むなしくなった。
He quietly passed away.
多おおくの兵へい士しが戦せん場

じょう

で

空むな

しく

なっ

た

。

Many soldiers died on the battlefield.

Written forms

空むなしくなる
Standard kanji spelling for the verb meaning 'to die' or 'to pass away'.
虚むなしくなる
Alternate kanji spelling; 虚 emphasizes emptiness or vanity, but is less common for this meaning.

Kanji

空empty, sky, void
虚void, emptiness, unpreparedness

Similar words

死しぬ
The common, direct word for 'to die'. 空しくなる is a more indirect, literary euphemism.
亡なくなる
A polite, common euphemism for 'to die'. 空しくなる is more poetic and less frequently used.

Etymology

From 空しい (むなしい, 'empty, vain') + なる ('to become'). The sense of 'to die' is a euphemistic extension, implying the person becomes empty or void.