空むなしい

む

な

し

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

空しい · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	空むなしい	空むなしくない
Polite	空むなしいです	空むなしくないですalso 空むなしくありません
Past polite	空むなしかったです	空むなしくなかったですalso 空むなしくありませんでした
Past	空むなしかった	空むなしくなかった
Te-form	空むなしくて	空むなしくなくて
Adverbial	空むなしく
Conditional	空むなしければ	空むなしくなければ
Tara conditional	空むなしかったら	空むなしくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

empty; void; hollow

Describes a physical or metaphorical emptiness, a lack of content, substance, or meaning. Often used for feelings of emptiness or a vacant space.

部屋へやの中なかは空からっぽで、むなしい感かんじがした。
The room was empty and felt hollow.
彼かれの言こと葉ばはむなしく響ひびいた。
His words rang hollow.

i-adjective

vain; futile; fruitless

Used for efforts, attempts, or hopes that produce no result or are pointless. Common in expressions like むなしい努力 (vain effort).

彼かれの努ど力りょくはむなしく終おわった。
His efforts ended in vain.
むなしい抵てい抗こうはやめて降こう伏ふくしなさい。
Stop your futile resistance and surrender.

i-adjective

lifeless; empty of life

Describes a state lacking vitality, spirit, or life. Often used in literary or emotional contexts, such as a lifeless expression or a dead atmosphere. The cross-reference 空しくなる suggests the process of becoming lifeless.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉がむなしいfor an effort or attempt to be in vain
彼かれの抵てい抗こうはむなしかった。
His resistance was in vain.
心こころがむなしいto feel a hollow emptiness inside
何なにをしても心こころがむなしい。
No matter what I do, my heart feels empty.
むなしく〈動どう詞し〉to do something in vain, ending without result
計けい画かくはむなしく終おわった。
The plan came to nothing in the end.

Expressions

努ど力りょくも虚むなしくafter efforts in vain; all efforts having been in vain
己おのれを虚むなしゅうするcast aside one's prejudices; empty oneself

Kanji

虚void, emptiness, unpreparedness
空empty, sky, void

Related words· 6

空からっぽN2sense 1
空っぽ is a concrete, colloquial word for physical emptiness like an empty box, while 虚しい usually carries an emotional or metaphorical sense of hollowness.
無む駄だN4sense 2
無駄 focuses on the lack of practical benefit or wastefulness of an act, while 虚しい emphasizes the emotional feeling of pointlessness that follows a failed effort.
儚はかないN1
虚しい emphasizes emptiness or futility with a focus on lack of meaning, while 儚い stresses the fleeting, fragile nature of something.
味あじ気けない
虚しい conveys a stronger, more emotional sense of futility or emptiness, whereas 味気ない describes a milder, bland lack of fulfillment.

Show 2 more

空くう疎そ
虚しい is an i-adjective expressing a feeling of futility or emptiness, while 空疎 is a na-adjective specifically criticizing arguments or plans for lacking substance.
空くう虚きょN1
虚しい is an i-adjective expressing a personal feeling of futility or emptiness, while 空虚 is a noun/na-adjective used more objectively or formally.

Don't confuse with

悲かなしいN4sense 1
悲しい means sad, describing an emotion of sorrow, whereas 虚しい describes a feeling of emptiness or futility that isn't necessarily sadness.
寂さびしいN5sense 1
寂しい means lonely, focusing on the absence of company, while 虚しい describes a broader sense of emptiness or futility not tied to loneliness.

Written forms

空むなしいUsage32%
Very common kanji form; 空 directly suggests emptiness or sky.
むなしいUsage36%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the intended kanji nuance is not important.
虚むなしいUsage32%
Common kanji form; 虚 carries a nuance of hollowness or emptiness.

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese むなし (munashi). The kanji 空 (sky/empty) and 虚 (void/false) both represent the core meaning of emptiness or hollowness.