hung1 kwaang1 kwaang1空框框
Jyutpinghung1 kwaang1 kwaang1
Yalehūng kwāang kwāang
Definition
Empty, vacant, or deserted with little or nothing inside.
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How it's used
This reduplicated form emphasizes a sense of stark emptiness or desolation that goes beyond a simple lack of objects. It often carries a slightly negative or melancholic connotation, suggesting that a space feels lonely or abandoned rather than just tidy. You will frequently hear it used to describe rooms, cupboards, or even schedules that are surprisingly devoid of activity.
Examples
The house is so empty, it looks like no one has ever lived there.
Related words
Common phrases
an empty house
an empty cupboard
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe abstract concepts like an empty mind or an empty promise, as it is strictly reserved for physical spaces or containers. For abstract emptiness, use words like 空虛 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
