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B1 adjective 9 Min. Lesezeit

虚ろな

utsurona

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Erklärung 虚ろな in your Level:

In the A1 level, we can think of 'utsuro-na' as a special word for 'sad' or 'empty' eyes. Imagine you are very, very tired or you lost your favorite toy. Your eyes might look 'utsuro.' It means there is no 'spark' or 'happiness' inside. Even though it is a B1 word, you can remember it by looking at pictures of characters in anime who look like they are daydreaming or very sad. They have 'utsuro-na me' (vacant eyes). It is like a house with no one inside. It's a bit difficult, but very useful for describing feelings that are more than just 'sad.'

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'utsuro-na' as a na-adjective to describe people's expressions. You already know 'kanashii' (sad) and 'tsukareta' (tired). 'Utsuro-na' is like a combination of both, but even deeper. It's used when someone is so shocked or sad that they can't even show a normal face. Their face becomes 'blank.' You can use it in the pattern: [Person] wa utsuro-na me o shite imasu (The person has vacant eyes). This is a great way to make your Japanese sound more descriptive and emotional when talking about stories or movies.

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For B1 learners, 'utsuro-na' is an essential word for describing psychological states and literary atmospheres. You should understand that it primarily modifies nouns like 'me' (eyes), 'hyōjō' (expression), or 'kokoro' (heart). It signifies a 'hollow' or 'vacant' state. It is different from 'karappo' because 'karappo' is for physical things like boxes, while 'utsuro' is for feelings or hollow spaces in nature (like a tree). You should practice using it with the particle 'ni' to create adverbs, such as 'utsuro-ni sora o miru' (to look vacantly at the sky). This word adds a layer of 'nihilism' or 'shock' to your descriptions.

At the B2 level, you should be able to distinguish 'utsuro-na' from its more formal synonym 'kūkyo-na.' While 'utsuro' is more sensory and often describes physical appearance (eyes, voice, resonance), 'kūkyo' is more abstract and used for concepts like 'an empty life' or 'hollow words.' You should also be aware of its usage in literature to describe the 'utsuroi' (fading) of things. Use 'utsuro-na' to describe the haunting atmosphere of a place or the lack of substance in a formal speech. It conveys a sense of 'loss of essence' that is very common in Japanese aesthetics and modern social commentary.

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C1 learners should master the nuanced application of 'utsuro' in various registers. In classical literature, 'utsuro' can refer to the 'utsuro-bune' (hollow ship) or physical cavities, but in modern prose, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the 'void' of the human condition. You should be able to use it to describe the resonance of a sound (utsuro-na hibiki) or the specific 'blankness' of a post-traumatic state. Furthermore, understanding the kanji 虚 (kyo/utsuro) and its relation to concepts of 'falsehood' and 'void' in Buddhist philosophy will help you appreciate why this word is chosen over simpler alternatives in high-level texts.

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At the C2 level, 'utsuro-na' is a tool for precise emotional and atmospheric painting. You can use it to critique the 'hollow' nature of modern consumerism or the 'vacant' eyes of a society that has lost its direction. You should be comfortable using it in complex grammatical structures and recognizing its role in creating 'ma' (negative space) in storytelling. Whether discussing the 'utsuro-na' quality of a Noh mask or the existential void in a Murakami novel, you use this word to denote a space that is defined by the absence of what should be there. It is the linguistic equivalent of a shadow where light used to fall.

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虚ろな in 30 Sekunden

Utsuro-na means 'hollow' or 'vacant,' primarily used for eyes and expressions.
It is a na-adjective, requiring 'na' before nouns and 'ni' for adverbs.
It differs from 'karappo' (physically empty) by focusing on spirit or essence.
Commonly found in literature and anime to depict shock, sorrow, or numbness.

The Japanese word 虚ろな (utsuro-na) is a poignant and evocative adjective that primarily translates to 'hollow,' 'vacant,' or 'blank.' While it can occasionally refer to physical hollowness, such as a hollow tree trunk (though utsuro as a noun is more common there), its most frequent and powerful application in modern Japanese is psychological and emotional. It describes a state where the 'spirit' or 'soul' seems to have departed, leaving behind a mere shell. This is most famously captured in the phrase 虚ろな目 (utsuro-na me), which refers to vacant, glassed-over eyes that suggest a person is staring into nothingness, often due to shock, deep sorrow, or complete exhaustion.

Emotional Resonance: In Japanese culture, the eyes are considered the 'windows to the heart' (心の窓). Therefore, describing eyes as 'utsuro' implies a profound internal emptiness. It is a word that suggests a lack of vital energy (ki). When someone experiences a traumatic event or a sudden loss, their expression might become 'utsuro,' indicating that they are physically present but mentally elsewhere, perhaps trapped in a void of disbelief.
Aesthetic of Emptiness: The concept of 'emptiness' (虚 - kyo) is a significant theme in East Asian philosophy and aesthetics. Unlike the Western often-negative view of emptiness as a lack, 'utsuro' in a literary sense can sometimes touch upon the transient nature of existence. However, in daily conversation, it remains largely descriptive of a melancholic or despondent state. It evokes the image of a vessel that was once full but has been drained of its contents, leaving only the echoing walls of the container.

彼はショックのあまり、虚ろな表情で立ち尽くしていた。(He stood there frozen with a vacant expression, paralyzed by the shock.)

— Example of emotional vacancy following a shock.

長い病気の後、彼女の瞳はどこか虚ろな光を湛えていた。(After a long illness, her eyes held a somewhat hollow light.)

Physical vs. Metaphorical: While 'utsuro' can describe a hollow tree (utsuro-gi), modern usage leans heavily toward the metaphorical. If you want to say a box is empty, you use 'karappo.' If you want to say a room is empty, you use 'dare mo inai.' 'Utsuro' is reserved for that specific, haunting feeling of something that should be filled with life or meaning, but isn't.

古い大木の虚ろな洞に、小鳥が巣を作っている。(A small bird is making a nest in the hollow cavity of an old, large tree.)

都会の喧騒の中で、彼は自分の心が虚ろになっていくのを感じた。(Amidst the bustle of the city, he felt his heart becoming hollow.)

In summary, 'utsuro-na' captures the essence of a 'void.' Whether it is the physical void inside a weathered tree or the emotional void in the eyes of a person who has lost hope, the word suggests a space where something vital used to exist but is now gone. It is a word of shadows, echoes, and the quiet aftermath of emotional storms.

The word 虚ろな (utsuro-na) functions as a 'na-adjective' (adjectival noun). This means it requires the particle na when modifying a noun directly, and can be turned into an adverb using ni. Understanding its grammatical placement is key to using it naturally in Japanese.

Direct Modification (Na-Adjective): The most common pattern is [Utsuro-na + Noun]. This is used to describe eyes, expressions, hearts, or physical hollows.

Example: Utsuro-na manazashi (A vacant gaze). Here, 'utsuro-na' provides the descriptive quality to the gaze.
As a Predicate (Describing a Subject): You can also use it at the end of a sentence to describe the state of something. [Subject + wa + utsuro da/desu].

Example: Kare no me wa utsuro datta (His eyes were vacant). This structure emphasizes the state of the eyes themselves.

夢を失った彼の心は、今や虚ろな洞穴のようだ。(His heart, having lost its dreams, is now like a hollow cave.)

Adverbial Usage (Ni-form): By changing 'na' to 'ni,' you can describe *how* someone is acting or feeling. [Utsuro-ni + Verb].

Example: Utsuro-ni sora o nagameru (To stare vacantly at the sky). This describes the action of staring as being empty and without focus.

彼は私の問いかけに、虚ろに微笑んだだけだった。(He only smiled vacantly at my question.)

その鐘の音は、虚ろな響きを伴って夕闇に消えていった。(The sound of that bell faded into the dusk with a hollow resonance.)

When constructing sentences, remember that 'utsuro-na' is highly descriptive. It doesn't just mean 'empty'; it paints a picture of a specific *kind* of emptiness—one that is often haunting, quiet, or sad. Using it to describe physical objects (like a hollow pipe) is possible but less common than using it for eyes, voices, or feelings.

In everyday Japanese life, you might not hear 虚ろな (utsuro-na) in casual conversation as often as words like 'empty' (karappo) or 'sad' (kanashii). However, it is a staple of Japanese media, literature, and formal descriptions of psychological states.

Literature and Novels: Japanese authors love 'utsuro-na' for its ability to convey deep existential dread or emotional numbness. In a novel, you might read about a character wandering through a 'utsuro-na machi' (a hollow/ghostly town) or having a 'utsuro-na kashin' (a hollow heart). It sets a somber, reflective tone.
Anime and Manga: This is perhaps where English speakers will encounter the word most. When a character is 'broken' or 'mind-controlled,' the narrator or other characters will often describe their eyes as 'utsuro.' It is a visual and verbal shorthand for a character who has lost their will or consciousness.

「どうしたの？そんな虚ろな目をして。」("What's wrong? You have such vacant eyes.")

— A common line of dialogue in dramatic scenes.

News and Journalism: In serious news reporting, particularly when discussing victims of trauma or the state of a declining town, 'utsuro' might be used to describe the atmosphere or the survivors' expressions. It adds a layer of empathy and gravity to the report.

祭りの後の広場には、虚ろな静寂が広がっていた。(A hollow silence spread across the square after the festival.)

Basically, if the scene is sad, introspective, or deals with the aftermath of something significant, 'utsuro-na' is likely to appear. It is a word that bridges the gap between physical description and deep emotional storytelling.

While 虚ろな (utsuro-na) is a versatile word, English speakers often confuse it with other Japanese words for 'empty.' Understanding these nuances will prevent you from sounding unnatural.

Confusing Utsuro with Karappo: 'Karappo' (空っぽ) is used for physical containers. A box is 'karappo.' A stomach is 'karappo.' Using 'utsuro' for a lunchbox would sound strange and poetic, as if the lunchbox has a soul that has departed. Use 'utsuro' for emotional emptiness or specific physical hollows like tree trunks.
Confusing Utsuro with Aki: 'Aki' (空き) refers to 'availability' or 'vacant space' in a functional sense. An 'aki-beya' is a vacant room available for rent. An 'utsuro-na heya' would be a room that feels hauntingly empty or spiritually void. Don't use 'utsuro' when looking for a parking spot!

❌ この箱は虚ろだ。(This box is hollow/vacant - Sounds too dramatic/poetic)
✅ この箱は空っぽだ。(This box is empty.)

Misusing the Kanji: The kanji 虚 (kyo) is also used in words like 'kyoki' (falsehood) or 'kyoei' (vanity). While related to emptiness, 'utsuro' specifically refers to the *state* of being hollow. Don't confuse it with 'uso' (lie), which uses a different kanji (嘘), though both imply a lack of truth or substance.

❌ 彼は虚ろな人だ。(He is a hollow person - Grammatically okay, but sounds like a literary description of his soul, not a common way to describe someone's personality.)

In summary: Use 'utsuro-na' for the poetic, the psychological, and the haunting. Use 'karappo' for the everyday and the physical. This distinction will make your Japanese sound much more natural and sophisticated.

Japanese has several words that touch upon the concept of emptiness. Depending on whether you want to sound more formal, more physical, or more abstract, you might choose one of these alternatives instead of 虚ろな (utsuro-na).

空虚な (Kūkyo-na): This is a more formal, academic, or philosophical version of 'utsuro-na.' While 'utsuro' feels more visual (vacant eyes), 'kūkyo' feels more conceptual (a hollow life, a void in theory).

Example: Kūkyo-na riron (A hollow/empty theory).
空っぽ (Karappo): As mentioned before, this is the colloquial word for physical emptiness. If your wallet is empty, it is 'karappo.' It is rarely used for poetic or psychological states unless you are being very blunt or literal (e.g., 'His head is empty/karappo').
うつろい (Utsuroi): Related to the same root, 'utsuroi' refers to the fading or changing of colors or seasons. It carries a sense of the 'transience' of life. While 'utsuro-na' is a state, 'utsuroi' is a process of fading away.

彼は空虚な日々を過ごしていた。(He was spending empty/hollow days - More formal/literary than 'utsuro'.)

虚脱 (Kyodatsu): A noun meaning 'lethargy' or 'collapse.' Used in the phrase 'kyodatsu-jōtai' (a state of lethargy/prostration). It describes the *physical* result of the 'utsuro' feeling—when you are so empty you can't move.

その約束は、今では形骸化し、虚ろなものとなった。(That promise has now become a mere formality/shell, a hollow thing.)

Choosing the right synonym allows you to control the emotional weight of your sentence. 'Utsuro-na' remains the most evocative choice for describing a haunting, visible emptiness in a living being.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

In ancient folklore, 'utsuro-bune' (hollow ships) were mysterious vessels that washed ashore, sometimes containing strange women or objects. This 'hollow' concept has always had a touch of the supernatural in Japanese culture.

Aussprachehilfe

UK ʊ.tsu.ro.na

US u.tsu.ro.na

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. 'Utsuro' typically has a flat (Heiban) accent or a slight drop depending on the dialect, but in standard Japanese, the pitch is relatively level.

Reimt sich auf

Kokoro (Heart) Tokoro (Place) Dokoro (Specific point) Yosoro (Steady as she goes) Osore (Fear - partial rhyme) Nomoro (Let's drink - partial rhyme) Futoro (Let's get fat - partial rhyme) Moyoro (Nearby - partial rhyme)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'tsu' as 'su'. Make sure to include the 't' sound.
Pronouncing the 'r' as an English 'r' (with the tongue curled back). It should be a single tap against the roof of the mouth.
Over-stressing the 'na'. It should be a light grammatical connector.
Making the 'o' sound like 'oh' in 'boat'. It should be a pure 'o' like in 'more' but shorter.
Confusing 'utsuro' with 'utsura-utsura' (dozing off).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

The kanji 虚 is JLPT N1/N2 level, but the word is commonly used in B1 level contexts.

Schreiben 4/5

Writing the kanji 虚 requires attention to the 'tiger' radical on top.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward as long as 'tsu' is clear.

Hören 3/5

Can be confused with 'utsura-utsura' or 'utsuru' in fast speech.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

空 (Sora/Kara - Empty) 目 (Me - Eyes) 心 (Kokoro - Heart) 悲しい (Kanashii - Sad) 表情 (Hyōjō - Expression)

Als Nächstes lernen

空虚 (Kūkyo - Emptiness) 虚脱 (Kyodatsu - Lethargy) 虚無 (Kyomu - Nihilism) 形骸化 (Keigaika - Becoming a mere shell) 儚い (Hakanai - Fleeting)

Fortgeschritten

無常 (Mujō - Impermanence) 空 (Kū - Emptiness in Buddhism) 寂寥感 (Sekiryōkan - Sense of loneliness/desolation) 虚飾 (Kyoshoku - Ostentation/Vain show)

Wichtige Grammatik

Na-Adjective Modification

虚ろな瞳 (Utsuro-na hitomi)

Adverbial 'ni' transformation

虚ろに笑う (Utsuro-ni warau)

State-indicating 'da/desu'

心は虚ろだ (Kokoro wa utsuro da)

Noun formation with '-sa'

虚ろさを埋める (Utsuro-sa o umeru)

Continuative 'de' for adjectives

虚ろで、冷たい目 (Utsuro de, tsumetai me)

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Beispiele nach Niveau

彼は虚ろな目をしています。

He has vacant eyes.

Uses 'utsuro-na' as a na-adjective modifying 'me' (eyes).

虚ろな顔で歩きます。

Walking with a blank face.

Modifies 'kao' (face).

彼女は虚ろな声で言いました。

She said it with a hollow voice.

Modifies 'koe' (voice).

その木は虚ろです。

That tree is hollow.

Uses 'utsuro' as a predicate.

虚ろな心は悲しいです。

A hollow heart is sad.

Modifies 'kokoro' (heart).

猫が虚ろな目で見ています。

The cat is looking with vacant eyes.

Modifies 'me' (eyes).

虚ろな表情をしないで。

Don't make a vacant expression.

Modifies 'hyōjō' (expression).

空は虚ろな青色でした。

The sky was a hollow blue.

Modifies 'aoiro' (blue color).

ショックで、彼の目は虚ろになった。

His eyes became vacant due to shock.

Uses 'ni naru' (to become) with 'utsuro'.

彼女は虚ろな返事をした。

She gave a hollow reply.

Modifies 'henji' (reply).

虚ろな気持ちで一日を過ごした。

I spent the day with a hollow feeling.

Modifies 'kimochi' (feeling).

古い家の虚ろな部屋。

A hollow/vacant room in an old house.

Modifies 'heya' (room).

彼は虚ろに笑った。

He laughed vacantly.

Uses 'utsuro-ni' as an adverb.

虚ろな言葉は届かない。

Hollow words don't reach (the heart).

Modifies 'kotoba' (words).

試験の後、頭が虚ろになった。

After the exam, my head became hollow (blank).

Metaphorical use for a 'blank' mind.

虚ろな響きが部屋に流れた。

A hollow resonance flowed through the room.

Modifies 'hibiki' (resonance/sound).

彼は虚ろな眼差しで遠くを見つめていた。

He was staring into the distance with a vacant gaze.

Uses 'manazashi' (gaze) which is a common collocation.

失恋して、心に虚ろな穴が開いたようだ。

Having lost my love, it feels like a hollow hole opened in my heart.

Uses 'ana' (hole) to describe emotional emptiness.

彼女は虚ろな表情のまま、立ち去った。

She walked away with that same vacant expression.

Uses 'no mama' (remaining in that state).

そのニュースを聞いて、彼は虚ろに頷いた。

Hearing the news, he nodded vacantly.

Adverbial use describing the manner of nodding.

都会の生活に疲れ、虚ろな日々を送っている。

Tired of city life, I am living hollow days.

Modifies 'hibi' (days/daily life).

虚ろな器の中に、何を満たせばいいのだろうか。

What should I fill this hollow vessel with?

Metaphorical use of 'utsuwa' (vessel).

彼の謝罪はどこか虚ろに聞こえた。

His apology sounded somewhat hollow.

Adverbial use modifying 'kikoeru' (to sound).

虚ろな夢を追い続けても、意味がない。

There is no point in chasing hollow dreams.

Modifies 'yume' (dreams).

戦後の街には、虚ろな空気が漂っていた。

A hollow atmosphere drifted through the post-war streets.

Modifies 'kūki' (air/atmosphere).

彼の言葉には実体がなく、虚ろな響きしかなかった。

His words had no substance, only a hollow resonance.

Contrasts 'jittai' (substance) with 'utsuro'.

忙しすぎる毎日の中で、自分自身が虚ろになっていく気がする。

In the midst of too-busy days, I feel myself becoming hollow.

Reflexive use 'jibun jishin ga utsuro ni naru'.

その廃墟には、かつての栄華の虚ろな影が残っていた。

In those ruins, hollow shadows of former glory remained.

Modifies 'kage' (shadow/trace).

虚ろな期待を抱かせるのは、残酷なことだ。

It is cruel to give someone hollow expectations.

Modifies 'kitai' (expectations).

彼女の瞳の奥に、虚ろな闇が見えた。

I saw a hollow darkness deep within her eyes.

Modifies 'yami' (darkness).

彼は虚ろに空を見上げ、ため息をついた。

He looked up vacantly at the sky and sighed.

Adverbial use describing the act of looking up.

虚ろな約束ほど、人を傷つけるものはない。

Nothing hurts people as much as a hollow promise.

Uses 'hodo... nai' comparison structure.

その建築物は、機能性を失い、ただの虚ろな空間と化していた。

The building had lost its functionality and turned into a mere hollow space.

Uses 'to kasuru' (to turn into/become).

現代社会の虚ろな喧騒から逃れるために、彼は山に籠った。

He secluded himself in the mountains to escape the hollow bustle of modern society.

Modifies 'kensō' (bustle/clamor).

彼の理論は、一見完璧だが、その芯は虚ろであった。

His theory seemed perfect at first glance, but its core was hollow.

Uses 'shin' (core/wick) as the subject.

虚ろな美学に心酔する若者たちが、街に溢れている。

Young people intoxicated by a hollow aesthetic are overflowing in the streets.

Modifies 'bigaku' (aesthetic).

老木の中にある虚ろな洞が、森の歴史を物語っている。

The hollow cavity within the old tree tells the history of the forest.

Physical use of 'utsuro' as a noun/adjective.

虚ろな笑みを浮かべながら、彼女は復讐を誓った。

Floating a hollow smile, she swore revenge.

Modifies 'emi' (smile).

その詩は、言葉の羅列に過ぎず、虚ろな印象しか与えない。

That poem is nothing but a string of words, giving only a hollow impression.

Modifies 'inshō' (impression).

虚ろな万能感に浸ることは、自己崩壊への第一歩だ。

Immersing oneself in a hollow sense of omnipotence is the first step toward self-destruction.

Modifies 'bannōkan' (sense of omnipotence).

存在の根源的な虚ろさを抱えながら、我々は生きていかねばならない。

We must live while carrying the fundamental hollowness of existence.

Uses the '-sa' suffix to turn 'utsuro' into a noun (hollowness).

彼の眼窩には、もはや光はなく、ただ虚ろな空虚が口を開けていた。

In his eye sockets, there was no longer any light, only a vacant void gaping open.

Combines 'utsuro' with 'kūkyo' for emphasis.

伝統が形骸化し、虚ろな儀礼のみが繰り返される現状を憂う。

I lament the current situation where traditions have become mere shells and only hollow rituals are repeated.

Modifies 'girei' (ritual).

言葉は虚ろな記号へと還元され、コミュニケーションは瓦解した。

Words were reduced to hollow symbols, and communication collapsed.

Modifies 'kigō' (symbol/sign).

その音楽の虚ろな旋律は、聴く者の魂を奈落へと誘う。

The hollow melody of that music invites the listener's soul into the abyss.

Modifies 'senritsu' (melody).

虚ろな文明の頂で、彼は孤独な叫びを上げた。

At the summit of a hollow civilization, he let out a lonely cry.

Modifies 'bunmei' (civilization).

鏡に映る自分は、どこまでも虚ろで、実体がないように感じられた。

The self reflected in the mirror felt utterly hollow, as if lacking substance.

Uses 'utsuro de' as a continuative form.

虚ろな情熱ほど、急速に冷めるものはない。

Nothing cools as rapidly as a hollow passion.

Modifies 'jōnetsu' (passion).

Häufige Kollokationen

虚ろな目

虚ろな表情

虚ろな心

虚ろな響き

虚ろな声

虚ろな穴

虚ろな返事

虚ろに眺める

虚ろな日々

虚ろな洞

Häufige Phrasen

虚ろな目をする

— To have vacant eyes. Used to describe someone looking absent-minded or shocked.

どうしてそんな虚ろな目をしてるの？

心が虚ろになる

— One's heart becomes hollow. Used for emotional exhaustion or loss.

忙しすぎて、いつの間にか心が虚ろになっていた。

虚ろな微笑み

— A vacant or hollow smile. A smile that doesn't reach the eyes.

彼女は虚ろな微笑みを浮かべて、さよならと言った。

虚ろに響く

— To ring hollow. Used for sounds or words that lack sincerity.

彼の励ましの言葉が、今の私には虚ろに響く。

虚ろな眼差し

— A vacant gaze. More literary than 'utsuro-na me.'

彼は虚ろな眼差しで、過ぎ去った日々を追っていた。

虚ろな世界

— A hollow world. Used in fiction or poetry to describe a meaningless existence.

彼は虚ろな世界に一人取り残された。

虚ろな影

— A hollow shadow. Refers to a faint or meaningless trace of something.

そこにはかつての賑わいの虚ろな影しかなかった。

虚ろな夢

— A hollow dream. A dream that has no substance or hope of coming true.

虚ろな夢を追いかけるのはもうやめよう。

虚ろな約束

— A hollow promise. An insincere commitment.

政治家の虚ろな約束にはもう飽きた。

虚ろな静寂

— A hollow silence. A silence that feels lonely or eerie rather than peaceful.

誰もいない教室に、虚ろな静寂が満ちていた。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

虚ろな vs 空っぽ (Karappo)

English speakers use 'empty' for both, but Japanese distinguishes between physical (karappo) and spiritual/hollow (utsuro).

虚ろな vs 空虚 (Kūkyo)

Kūkyo is more abstract/academic. Utsuro is more sensory/visual.

虚ろな vs うつらうつら (Utsura-utsura)

Similar sound, but means dozing off. Don't tell someone they have 'utsura-utsura eyes' unless they are falling asleep!

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"虚を突く"

— To catch someone off guard or take advantage of a blind spot. Uses the same kanji.

相手の虚を突いて、逆転勝利を収めた。

General

"虚実皮膜"

— The thin line between truth and fiction. An aesthetic concept in Japanese art.

芸の面白さは虚実皮膜の間にある。

Academic/Artistic

"虚空を掴む"

— To grasp at thin air. To try to reach for something that isn't there.

彼は必死に虚空を掴もうとしていた。

Literary

"虚空を見つめる"

— To stare into the void. Similar to 'utsuro-ni sora o miru.'

彼女はただ虚空を見つめていた。

Literary

"虚栄心を張る"

— To be vain or showy to cover up internal emptiness.

彼は虚栄心を張って、高い車を買った。

General

"虚礼廃止"

— Abolishing empty formalities (like seasonal gifts in business).

わが社では虚礼廃止を推奨している。

Business

"虚々実々"

— A battle of wits where both sides use every trick (truth and lies) available.

虚々実々の駆け引きが続く。

Formal

"虚心坦懐"

— With an open and calm mind, free from bias or 'emptiness' in a positive way.

虚心坦懐に相手の話を聞く。

Formal

"虚名に甘んじる"

— To be content with an empty reputation (fame without substance).

彼は虚名に甘んじることなく、努力を続けた。

Literary

"虚構の世界"

— A world of fiction or fabrication.

彼は虚構の世界に逃避している。

General

Leicht verwechselbar

虚ろな vs 虚飾 (Kyoshoku)

Uses the same kanji 虚.

Kyoshoku means 'ostentation' or 'vain show' (adding fake stuff), while utsuro is about the 'emptiness' itself.

虚飾に満ちた生活 (A life full of vain show).

虚ろな vs 空き (Aki)

Both translate to 'vacant.'

Aki is functional (a vacant seat). Utsuro is emotional or structural (a hollow tree).

空き部屋ありますか？ (Is there a vacant room?)

虚ろな vs 虚妄 (Komō)

Uses the same kanji 虚.

Komō refers to a 'delusion' or 'falsehood,' whereas utsuro is a state of 'being hollow.'

虚妄の夢に惑わされる (Being misled by a delusional dream).

虚ろな vs うつろい (Utsuroi)

Same root.

Utsuroi is the *process* of fading or changing. Utsuro is the *state* of being hollow.

季節のうつろいを感じる (Feeling the change of seasons).

虚ろな vs 虚脱 (Kyodatsu)

Often used in similar contexts (shock).

Kyodatsu is a noun for the state of collapse/lethargy. Utsuro is an adjective for the quality of the feeling.

虚脱感に襲われる (To be overcome by a sense of lethargy).

Satzmuster

[Person] は虚ろな目をしている。

田中さんは虚ろな目をしている。

ショックで [Noun] が虚ろになった。

ショックで頭が虚ろになった。

[Noun] はどこか虚ろに響いた。

彼の声はどこか虚ろに響いた。

虚ろな [Noun] を抱えて [Verb]。

虚ろな心を抱えて歩き出す。

虚ろに [Verb] だけで、何も答えない。

虚ろに微笑むだけで、何も答えない。

虚ろな [Noun] に過ぎない。

それは虚ろな儀礼に過ぎない。

[Noun] の奥に虚ろな [Noun] が見える。

瞳の奥に虚ろな闇が見える。

虚ろな [Noun] と化した [Place]。

虚ろな廃墟と化した街。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

虚 (Utsuro) - A hollow, a void.

空虚 (Kūkyo) - Emptiness, void.

虚脱 (Kyodatsu) - Lethargy, collapse.

Verben

移ろう (Utsurou) - To change, to fade, to shift (same root).

Adjektive

虚ろな (Utsuro-na) - Hollow, vacant.

空虚な (Kūkyo-na) - Empty, meaningless.

Verwandt

空 (Sora/Kara) - Sky, empty.

嘘 (Uso) - Lie.

虚妄 (Komō) - Delusion, falsehood.

虚偽 (Kyogi) - Falsehood.

虚弱 (Kyojaku) - Frailty.

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frequency

Common in creative writing and drama; moderate in daily speech.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'utsuro' for an empty glass of water. → Kono gurasu wa karappo da.
'Utsuro' is for spiritual/structural hollowness, not simple lack of liquid.
Using 'utsuro' to mean 'available' for a taxi. → Kūsha (空車).
'Utsuro' is never used for functional availability.
Saying 'utsuro me' instead of 'utsuro-na me'. → Utsuro-na me.
You must include the 'na' because it is a na-adjective modifying a noun.
Confusing 'utsuro' with 'utsukushii' (beautiful). → Utsuro-na...
They sound similar at the start, but have opposite vibes!
Using 'utsuro' for a lie. → Uso (嘘).
While 'kyo' (虚) relates to falsehood, the word 'utsuro' specifically means hollow, not a spoken lie.

Tipps

Na vs Ni

Remember: 'utsuro-na' + noun (a hollow thing), and 'utsuro-ni' + verb (doing something hollowly). This is the standard na-adjective rule.

Pair with Eyes

If you only learn one phrase, learn 'utsuro-na me' (vacant eyes). It is the most common use by far.

Not just Empty

Think of 'utsuro' as 'hauntingly empty.' It's not just that the space is vacant, but that its vacancy is noticeable or sad.

Anime Eyes

In anime, when a character's eyes lose their highlights (the little white dots), they are often described as 'utsuro-na me.' Use this visual cue to remember the word.

Hiragana Usage

In lyrics and poetry, you will often see it as うつろな. This makes the word feel softer and more emotional than the sharp-looking kanji 虚.

Soften the 'R'

The 'ro' in utsuro is a light tap. Don't let it become a heavy English 'R', or it will break the flow of the word.

Urban Emptiness

Use it to describe the feeling of a city at 4 AM when no one is around—'utsuro-na machi' (a hollow town).

The 'U' Void

The letter 'U' looks like a hollow container. 'U'-tsuro is a hollow container.

Kanji Recognition

The top part of 虚 is the 'tiger' radical (虍). Imagine a tiger whose stomach is 'hollow' and hungry.

Avoid 'Karappo' for People

Calling a person 'karappo' means they are stupid/braindead. Calling them 'utsuro' means they are going through deep emotional pain. Choose wisely!

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine a 'u' (you) staring at a 'tsu' (tsunami) and feeling 'ro' (robbed) of all emotion. You are left 'utsuro' (hollow).

Visuelle Assoziation

Picture an old, gnarled tree with a large, dark hole in its center. That hole is an 'utsuro.' Now, imagine that same dark hole in the eyes of a character who just lost their favorite ramen.

Word Web

Eyes (Me) Heart (Kokoro) Tree (Ki) Empty (Kara) Shock (Shokku) Void (Kū) Voice (Koe) Silence (Seijaku)

Herausforderung

Try to find three characters in your favorite anime who have 'utsuro-na me' at some point. Write a sentence for each one describing why they feel that way.

Wortherkunft

The word 'utsuro' comes from the Old Japanese root 'utsu,' which relates to being empty or hollow. It is linguistically linked to 'utsuwa' (a vessel/container), implying a space that can hold something but is currently empty. The suffix '-ro' is an ancient suffix often used for states or locations.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Originally, it referred strictly to physical hollows, such as the hollow in a tree or a cave. Over centuries, it evolved to describe the 'hollowness' of the human spirit.

Japonic

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using this word to describe people in real life; it can imply they look mentally unwell or profoundly depressed.

English speakers might use 'vacant' or 'hollow,' but 'utsuro' often carries a more 'fragile' and 'beautiful' sadness (mono no aware) than the English equivalents.

The 'Utsuro-bune' (Hollow Ship) legend of 1803. Murakami Haruki's characters often experience 'utsuro' states of existential boredom. The 'Eyes of a Dead Fish' (Shinda sakana no me) is a slangier way to describe 'utsuro-na me' in anime.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

After a breakup

心に虚ろな穴が開く
虚ろな日々を過ごす
彼の声が虚ろに響く
虚ろな思い出

Reacting to bad news

虚ろな目をする
虚ろな表情で立ち尽くす
虚ろに頷く
頭が虚ろになる

Describing nature

大木の虚ろな洞
虚ろな響きの鐘
虚ろな夕闇
虚ろな風の音

Criticizing a speech

虚ろな言葉
虚ろな約束
虚ろな議論
内容が虚ろだ

Anime/Manga scenes

目が虚ろになる
虚ろな笑い
虚ろな魂
虚ろな人形

Gesprächseinstiege

"最近、虚ろな目をしてるけど、何かあったの？ (You've had vacant eyes lately, did something happen?)"

"あの映画のラストシーン、主人公の虚ろな表情が忘れられないんだ。 (I can't forget the protagonist's vacant expression in that movie's last scene.)"

"都会の喧騒にいると、時々心が虚ろになりませんか？ (Don't you sometimes feel your heart becoming hollow when you're in the city's bustle?)"

"虚ろな約束ばかりする人について、どう思う？ (What do you think about people who only make hollow promises?)"

"この古い木の虚ろの中に、何かが隠されている気がする。 (I feel like something is hidden inside the hollow of this old tree.)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日、自分が「虚ろだ」と感じた瞬間はありましたか？それはなぜですか？ (Was there a moment today when you felt 'hollow'? Why was that?)

虚ろな目をしている人を見かけたら、あなたならどう声をかけますか？ (If you saw someone with vacant eyes, how would you talk to them?)

「虚ろな言葉」と「心のこもった言葉」の違いは何だと思いますか？ (What do you think is the difference between 'hollow words' and 'heartfelt words'?)

あなたの好きな物語の中で、虚ろな表情が印象的だったシーンを書いてください。 (Describe a scene from a story you like where a vacant expression was memorable.)

心に開いた「虚ろな穴」を埋めるには、何が必要だと思いますか？ (What do you think is needed to fill a 'hollow hole' that has opened in the heart?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Technically, you can in a very poetic sense, but it's unnatural for daily life. Use 'karappo' for boxes. 'Utsuro' implies a more haunting or natural hollowness, like a hole in a tree.

Usually, yes. It implies a lack of something that should be there (like life or meaning). However, in aesthetics, it can have a haunting beauty.

The most natural phrase is 'utsuro-na me o shite iru.' This literally means 'is doing/having vacant eyes.'

'Utsuro' is often something you can see or hear (eyes, voice). 'Kūkyo' is a more intellectual word for 'meaningless' or 'empty' (a hollow theory).

The kanji 虚 is common in compound words (like 'uso' which is sometimes written as 嘘 but 虚 relates to it), but 'utsuro' itself is often written in hiragana in modern texts.

No, it doesn't mean a physical inability to see. It means the eyes are present but the person isn't 'focusing' or 'conscious' in the normal way.

It implies staring at the sky without really seeing it, usually because you are lost in thought, sad, or shocked.

Yes! 'Utsuro-na hibiki' means a hollow sound, like a bell ringing in a large, empty stone hall.

You can say 'utsuro-na hito' to mean someone who seems to have no soul or inner life, but it sounds very literary or harsh.

It is spelled 虚ろ. Note that the 'ro' is written in hiragana outside the kanji (okurigana).

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