When discussing the verb 空く (aku), meaning 'to become empty,' it's crucial to understand its nuanced usage compared to other verbs that might seem similar, such as 開く (aku) 'to open.' While both share the same pronunciation, 空く specifically denotes a state of emptiness or availability. This can apply to a physical space becoming vacant, like a seat on a train, or a schedule becoming free.
It often implies a change of state, moving from full or occupied to empty or available. For instance, a common usage is お腹が空く (onaka ga aku), meaning 'to become hungry,' literally 'one's stomach becomes empty.'
Understanding this distinction is key to accurately expressing availability or lack thereof in Japanese. Pay close attention to the kanji to differentiate these homophones and avoid misunderstandings in context.
空く in 30 Seconds
- 空く means 'to become empty'.
- Use it for spaces, stomachs, or free time.
- It's an intransitive verb.
§ 空く (aku): To become empty
The Japanese verb 空く (aku) means 'to become empty'. It's a versatile verb you'll hear in many situations. Don't confuse it with 開く (aku), which means 'to open', or 飽く (aku), meaning 'to get tired of'. The kanji are different, and so are the meanings!
§ Where you actually hear this word: Work, School, News
You'll encounter 空く in various daily contexts. Here are some common situations:
- Waiting for a seat or space: This is probably one of the most frequent uses. If you're looking for a free seat on a train or a parking spot, you'll hear or use 空く.
- Rooms or tables becoming available: In restaurants or at events, you'll hear it when a table or a room frees up.
- Stomachs getting empty: When you're hungry, your stomach 'becomes empty'. This is a natural and common way to express hunger in Japanese.
- Time becoming free: If your schedule clears up, you can use 空く to describe it.
- Containers becoming empty: From a box of snacks to a bottle of water, anything that held something and is now empty can be described using 空く.
§ At Work and School
In professional or academic settings, 空く is quite practical. For example, when you're looking for an available meeting room or if a teacher asks if you have free time.
会議室はいつ空きますか？
- Hint
- When does the meeting room become available?
Or:
先生、次の授業の後に少し時間が空きます。
- Hint
- Teacher, I'll have a little free time after the next class.
§ In Everyday Life and News
In everyday conversations, you'll hear 空く often, especially when talking about hunger or looking for a spot.
お腹が空きましたね。
- Hint
- My stomach has become empty. (I'm hungry.)
Or, when talking about public spaces:
駐車場はまだ空きがありません。
- Hint
- There are no empty spots in the parking lot yet.
In news reports, you might hear it in contexts related to vacancies or available resources, though it might be less frequent than in daily conversation unless the news is specifically about space or availability.
この地域では、アパートの空き部屋が少なくなっています。
- Hint
- In this area, vacant apartment rooms are decreasing.
Grammar to Know
空く (aku) is an intransitive verb meaning 'to become empty' or 'to be open'. It indicates a state of change or an existing state.
お腹が空いた。 (Onaka ga aita.) - I became hungry. (My stomach became empty.)
It is often used with the particle が (ga) to indicate what becomes empty.
席が空いていますか。 (Seki ga aite imasu ka.) - Is there a seat open?
When referring to a schedule or time, 空く can mean 'to become free' or 'to have availability'.
来週の月曜日は空いています。 (Raishū no getsuyōbi wa aite imasu.) - I am free next Monday.
The causative form, 空ける (akeru), means 'to empty something' or 'to make something open'.
部屋を空けてください。 (Heya o akete kudasai.) - Please empty the room.
空く can also be used in the potential form, 空けることができる (akeru koto ga dekiru), meaning 'can be emptied' or 'can be opened'.
この箱は簡単に空けることができます。 (Kono hako wa kantan ni akeru koto ga dekimasu.) - This box can be easily emptied.
Examples by Level
お腹が空いたね。
I'm hungry, aren't I? (My stomach has become empty.)
Common informal expression for 'I'm hungry'.
席が空いていますか。
Is this seat empty?
Used when asking if a seat is available.
部屋が空きました。
The room became empty.
Indicates a room is now vacant.
手が空いたら手伝って。
Please help me when your hands are free (when you're not busy).
Figurative use, meaning 'when you have free time'.
時間が空いたので、本を読みました。
I had some free time, so I read a book.
Indicates a period of time becoming available.
冷蔵庫が空になった。
The refrigerator became empty.
Using 'に なる' (ni naru) to express 'to become'.
駐車場が空いていました。
The parking lot was empty.
Past tense of '空く'.
ボトルが空になるまで飲んだ。
I drank until the bottle was empty.
Using 'まで' (made) to express 'until'.
How to Use It
How to use 空く (aku):
空く (aku) means 'to become empty' or 'to open up'. It's an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. Think of it as something becoming empty on its own.
- Rooms/Spaces: 部屋が空く (heya ga aku) - The room becomes empty/available.
- Seats: 席が空く (seki ga aku) - A seat becomes empty/available.
- Schedule/Time: 予定が空く (yotei ga aku) - A schedule/time slot becomes open.
- Stomach: お腹が空く (onaka ga aku) - To become hungry (literally, 'the stomach becomes empty'). This is a very common fixed expression.
Examples:
A: 部屋はいつ空きますか？ (Heya wa itsu akimasu ka?)
When will the room become empty/available?
B: 3時に空きます。 (San-ji ni akimasu.)
It will be available at 3 o'clock.
A: お腹が空いたね。 (Onaka ga aita ne.)
I'm hungry, aren't I?
B: うん、私も。 (Un, watashi mo.)
Yeah, me too.
Common Mistakes with 空く (aku):
The most common mistake is confusing 空く (aku) with other verbs that sound similar or have related meanings.
1. Confusing with 開く (hiraku/aku):
Both 空く (aku) and 開く (hiraku/aku) can be read as 'aku'. However, their meanings are different:
- 空く (aku): To become empty, to become vacant. (e.g., a room, a schedule, a stomach)
- 開く (hiraku/aku): To open (a door, a book, a shop). This is often about things physically opening.
Correct: 部屋が空く (heya ga aku) - The room becomes empty/available.
Incorrect: ドアが空く (doa ga aku) - This would imply the door is *empty* rather than *open*. Use 開く (hiraku) for doors opening. ドアが開く (doa ga hiraku) - The door opens.
2. Using it transitively:
Since 空く (aku) is intransitive, you cannot 'empty something' using 空く. For that, you would use a different verb like 空ける (akeru - transitive verb meaning 'to empty something', 'to make space').
Correct: 席が空いた。(Seki ga aita.) - A seat became empty/available.
Incorrect: 私は席を空いた。(Watashi wa seki o aita.) - This is grammatically incorrect because 空く is intransitive.
Correct (using transitive verb): 私は席を空けた。(Watashi wa seki o aketa.) - I emptied the seat (I made the seat available).
Test Yourself 18 questions
This means 'I'm hungry.' You often hear this phrase.
This means 'Please wait until a seat becomes available.'
This means 'The refrigerator became empty.' '空に' is a common way to say 'become empty.'
会議室が___ので、別の場所を探しましょう。
「空く」は動詞で、「空いて」は「空く」のて形です。文脈に合わせて「空いているので」となります。
お腹が___、何か食べたい気分です。
「お腹が空く」は「お腹が減る」という意味で、て形を使って「お腹が空いて」となります。
週末は予定が___ので、ぜひ一緒に食事に行きましょう。
「予定が空く」は「予定がなくなる」という意味で、「空いている」と現在進行形のような形で使われます。
席が___次第、ご案内いたします。
「〜次第」の前は動詞の連用形（マス形から「マス」を取った形）が来ます。「空く」の連用形は「空き」です。
バスは満員で、座席が一つも___いませんでした。
「〜ていない」は「〜ていない」の形で否定を表します。座席が空いていない状況なので「空いていません」が正しいです。
店が___まで、もう少し待ってください。
「〜まで」の前は動詞の終止形が来ます。店が空くまで待つ、という未来の状況を表しています。
パーティーの後、部屋がすっかり___しまった。
「空く」は空間が空になることを意味します。他の選択肢はそれぞれ「開く（ひらく）」（扉などが開く）、「開く（あく）」（時間などが空く）、「飽く」（飽きる）と意味が異なります。
長時間の会議で、頭の中が___感じがする。
「頭の中が空く」は、頭が疲れて何も考えられなくなる状態を表します。他の選択肢は文脈に合いません。
席が___まで、しばらくお待ちください。
「席が空く」は座る場所が利用可能になることを意味します。他の選択肢は不適切です。
冷蔵庫のドアが空いた。This means the refrigerator door became empty.
「冷蔵庫のドアが空いた」は、「開いた」（ひらいた）であればドアが開いたという意味ですが、「空いた」（すいた）ではドアが空になるという不自然な意味になります。
お腹が空いた。This means I became hungry.
「お腹が空いた」は、「お腹が空っぽになった」という意味から、「お腹が減った」「お腹がすいた」となり、「お腹が空いた」で「お腹が減った」という意味になります。
彼の心は完全に空いてしまった。This means his heart became completely open.
「心が空く」は、心に何も感情がない、虚無感がある、という意味合いで使われます。「心が開放的になる」という意味ではありません。
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
空く is a versatile verb meaning 'to become empty' and can be used in many common situations.
- 空く means 'to become empty'.
- Use it for spaces, stomachs, or free time.
- It's an intransitive verb.
Example
この席は空いていますか？
Related Content
More general words
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
