Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
空理空論 (くうりくうろん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
くう
理り
空くう
論ろん
に
過す
ぎ
ず
、
現げん
場ば
で
は
全まった
く
役やく
に
立た
た
ない
。
His proposal is nothing but empty theory and is completely useless in the field.
Rather than brandishing impractical theories, it's more important to try putting things into practice first.
Kanji 理 logic, arrangement, reason Related words 机き 上じょう の 空くう 論ろん Similar meaning of 'armchair theory', but 空理空論 emphasizes the emptiness of the logic itself, while 机上の空論 focuses on the idea being conceived only at a desk without real-world testing.
観かん 念ねん 的てき Means 'conceptual' or 'ideological', often used neutrally or in philosophical contexts, whereas 空理空論 is explicitly negative about impracticality.
Etymology A yojijukugo composed of 空 (empty), 理 (reason/logic), 空 (empty), and 論 (argument/theory). The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common four-character pattern for expressing abstract criticism.
