Meaning of 空间
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- space; room
- (fig.) scope; leeway
- (astronomy) outer space
- (physics, math.) space
How to use 空间
空间 is used for physical room, outer space, and figuratively for scope or leeway to grow or improve. A very common phrase is 发展空间 (fāzhǎn kōngjiān), room for development. Example: 这个房间空间很大。(Zhège fángjiān kōngjiān hěn dà.) This room has a lot of space.
空 (kōng) means empty and 间 (jiān) means a gap or room between things. Put them together and you get the empty area between things: space.
Common mistake: Learners often read 空 here as kòng, the tone used in 有空儿 (yǒukòngr, to have free time). In 空间 it is always first tone, kōngjiān, just like 空气 (kōngqì).
空间 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
空 kōng · empty · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
间 jiān · between · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 空间.
| 时间 | shíjiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room |
| 中间 | zhōngjiān | the middle; the inside; in the middle; within; between; among |
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory |
| 空气 | kōngqì | air; atmosphere |
| 有空儿 | yǒukòngr | erhua form of 有空[you3 kong4] |
| 天空 | tiānkōng | sky |
| 卫生间 | wèishēngjiān | bathroom; toilet |
| 空调 | kōngtiáo | air conditioning; air conditioner (including units that have a heating mode) |
| 民间 | mínjiān | among the people; popular |
| 空儿 | kòngr | spare time; free time |
| 之间 | zhījiān | (after a noun) between; among; amid; (used after certain bisyllabic words to form expressi |
Questions about 空间
What does 空间 mean?
空间 (kōngjiān) means "space; room; (fig.) scope; leeway" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 空间?
空间 is made of 2 characters: 空 (8 strokes), 间 (7 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 空间 an HSK word?
Yes. 空间 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 空间 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 空间 is written 空間.
What is the difference between 空间 and 房间?
房间 (fángjiān) is a room as a physical unit in a building, like a bedroom. 空间 is the amount of space or room available, so you say 房间的空间很小 to mean the room is cramped.
Can 空间 mean room for improvement?
Yes. 还有进步的空间 (hái yǒu jìnbù de kōngjiān) means there is still room for improvement. This figurative use is very common in work, school, and business talk.