空車
Meanings
1
empty taxi; vacant vehicle
Refers to a taxi or other for-hire vehicle that is available for passengers. The opposite is 実車 (jissha, 'occupied taxi').
Antonyms: 実車
I had trouble catching an empty taxi in front of the station.
The taxi sign shows 'vacant'.
2
parking available; spaces open
Only with reading くうしゃ
Used for parking lots to indicate that spaces are available. The opposite is 満車 (mansha, 'full'). Reading is くうしゃ only.
Antonyms: 満車
There was a sign saying 'vacancies' at the entrance of the parking lot.
Usage patterns
- 空車のタクシーan empty (for-hire) taxi
I spotted an empty taxi and raised my hand to hail it.
- 空車ありsign indicating that parking spaces are available
A sign at the entrance to the parking lot read "Spaces Available."
- 空車ランプが点くthe taxi's vacant light comes on
That taxi had its vacant light on.
- 〈場所〉の空車を探すto look for an available parking space at a place
I looked for an open space in the department store's parking lot.