sky · empty

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 空 has 8 strokes and relates to the sky or an empty state.
• Basic usage: 空 is read そら, and 空気 is read くうき.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The sky, air, and atmosphere
  • 夕暮れの空を横切った means crossing the evening sky.
  • Here, を marks the space traversed.
  • 冷たい空気 means cold air.
  • 会議の重い空気 means the tense atmosphere of a meeting.
  • 空気 can refer both to physical air and to the atmosphere of a situation.