虚 (xū) - Empty, void, hollow & false, unreal

虚Tone 1

xū ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

虚 · xū

Empty, void, hollow;

false, unreal;

modest, humble;

weak, in poor health;

abstract, theoretical.

Empty, void, hollowfalse, unrealmodest, humble

Usage highlights

Empty and unrealModest and prudentFalse alarmWeak constitutionVirtual realityAbstract concept

Synonyms

  • 空— empty, hollow
  • 假— false, fake
  • 弱— weak, feeble

Antonyms

  • 实— solid, real, substantial
  • 满— full, complete
  • 强— strong, powerful

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The room is empty (房间是空的).
  • He is in poor health (他身体虚弱).
  • This is a false alarm (这是虚惊一场).
  • She is very modest (她很谦虚).

Collocations

  • Empty and unreal(空虚)
  • Modest and prudent(谦虚谨慎)
  • False alarm(虚惊)
  • Weak constitution(体虚)
  • Virtual reality(虚拟现实)
  • Abstract concept(虚概念)

Idioms

  • Empty fame without substance(虚有其表)
  • Modest and respectful(虚怀若谷)
  • False and empty(虚情假意)
  • Waste one's time(虚度年华)
  • Make a false move(虚晃一枪)
  • Empty talk without practice(虚而不实)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Taoist philosophy, 'xu' represents the state of emptiness and receptivity, as in 'the void that contains all possibilities'.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, 'xu' refers to deficiency syndromes where the body's vital energy is depleted.
  • Confucian values emphasize 'modesty' (谦虚) as an important virtue in personal conduct.

FAQ