Japanese word

空く

Pronunciation

Romajisuku

Meaning

  • verbbecome less crowded

Example

バスが空きます。ba su ga a ki ma su

The bus becomes less crowded.

Illustration for 空く (become less crowded)

More examples

この電車は駅を出ると空きます。ko no den sha wa eki o de ru to a ki ma su

This train gets less crowded after leaving the station.

授業が終わると、食堂が空きます。ju gyō ga o wa ru to shoku dō ga a ki ma su

The cafeteria becomes less crowded after classes end.

Core concept

Describes a space or vehicle gaining room as people or things leave, so it is no longer crowded.

Common phrases

  • 席が空くseki ga su ku

    a seat becomes available

  • 食堂が空くshoku dō ga su ku

    a cafeteria becomes less crowded

  • 道路が空くdō ro ga su ku

    a road becomes less busy

Definition in Japanese

人や物が減って、場所や乗り物に余裕が生じること。hito ya mono ga he tte ba sho ya no ri mono ni yo yū ga shō ji ru ko to

Word origin

空く (suku) is a native Japanese verb whose basic sense is "to become open or unoccupied"; the sense "become less crowded" follows when people leave a place.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 空く (suku) commonly describes buses, trains, roads, and waiting rooms becoming less crowded as people move away.

Other meanings

  • become emptyverb

Opposites

  • 混雑するkonzatsusurubecome crowdedverb

Related words

Word lists with this word