noun
fictitious bill; dishonored bill; bad check
Literal financial term for a bill or check that cannot be honored, often because the issuer lacks funds or the document is fraudulent.
その会社は空手形を振り出して、取引先に迷惑をかけた。
That company issued a bad check and caused trouble for its business partners.
noun
empty promise; hollow promise
Figurative use likening an unfulfilled promise to a worthless financial instrument. Common in expressions such as 空手形を切る or 空手形に終わる.
政治家の選挙公約は空手形に終わることが多い。
Politicians' campaign promises often end up as empty promises.
彼はまた空手形を切っただけだ。
He just made another hollow promise.
Compound of 空 (から, 'empty') and 手形 (てがた, 'bill, note'). The figurative sense extends the idea of a worthless financial document to any insincere promise.