空あき巣す

noun

empty nest

Literal use for a nest with nothing in it. In modern everyday Japanese, 空き巣 more strongly suggests burglary unless the animal or nest context is explicit.

• 鳥とりのいない巣すを、文も字じどおり空あき巣すと呼よぶことがある。

  A nest with no birds in it may literally be called an empty nest.

noun

empty house; empty home

Literal or limited use for a house with nobody at home. For a vacant house, 空き家 is usually clearer; in ordinary modern use 空き巣 often means burglary or burglar.

• ここでいう空あき巣すは、住じゅう人にんが留る守すの家いえのことだ。

  Here, 空き巣 means a house whose residents are away.

noun

burglary of an empty home; burglar targeting empty homes; sneak thief

Common modern meaning. It can refer either to the act of breaking into a home while no one is there, or to the person who does it; it is an abbreviation related to 空き巣狙い.

See also: 空き巣狙い

• 旅りょ行こう中ちゅうに空あき巣すに入はいられた。

  Our home was burgled while we were traveling.

• 警けい察さつは空あき巣すの男おとこを逮たい捕ほした。

  The police arrested the burglar who targeted empty homes.