Japanese Symbol for
空sora
sky · emptiness · void
Readings
Meaning
Sky, emptiness, void, air. 空 carries multiple dimensions — the literal sky, empty space, and the Buddhist concept of 空 (kū — emptiness/void), one of the most profound ideas in Japanese philosophy.
Example words
青空
aozora
blue sky
空港
kūkō
airport (sky port)
空気
kūki
air, atmosphere, mood
空手
karate
karate (empty hand)
空白
kūhaku
blank space, void
空の境界
kara no kyōkai
the boundary of emptiness (novel/anime)
空気を読む (kūki wo yomu — "reading the air") is a key Japanese social concept — the ability to sense the mood of a situation without being told explicitly. Someone who can't do this is called KY (空気読めない — kūki yomenai — "can't read the air"). The Buddhist 空 (kū — emptiness/śūnyatā) forms the philosophical foundation of Zen, tea ceremony, and martial arts.
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