also: なかぞら
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Only with reading ちゅうくう
Describes something that is empty inside; used attributively with の. Reading restricted to ちゅうくう.
This pillar is hollow inside.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to a point or space high above the ground, often used in contexts like suspension or floating. Both readings possible, but ちゅうくう is standard.
A balloon is floating in mid-air.
Clouds in the sky are drifting slowly.
中空 (with the kanji reversed) usually means 'hollow' (like a hollow tube), though it can also mean midair, so learners must not confuse it with 空中, which specifically means 'in the air'.
hollow wall; cavity wall
Standard kanji form for both senses; reading ちゅうくう is the most common.
Rare reading for the mid-air sense; ちゅうくう is strongly preferred in modern usage.
Compound of 中 (middle) and 空 (sky, empty). The 'hollow' sense derives from the literal meaning 'empty inside', while the 'mid-air' sense comes from 'middle of the sky'.