Japanese word

虚ろ

Pronunciation

Romajiutsuro

Meaning

  • na-adjectivehollow

Example

彼の笑顔は虚ろです。kare no e gao wa utsu ro de su

His smile is hollow.

Illustration for 虚ろ (hollow)

More examples

何をしても楽しめず、彼は虚ろに笑いました。nan o shi te mo tano shi me zu kare wa utsu ro ni wara i ma shi ta

Unable to enjoy anything, he smiled hollowly.

Core concept

Presents an outward form that remains while its inner substance, energy, or feeling seems absent.

Common phrases

  • 虚ろな目utsu ro na me

    vacant eyes

  • 虚ろな表情utsu ro na hyō jō

    hollow expression

  • 虚ろに笑うutsu ro ni wara u

    smile hollowly

Similar words

空虚kūkyo: Describes a state in which inner feeling or purpose seems missing.
空っぽkarappo: Describes something that has an outward form but no sense of inner fullness.
空疎kūso: Describes an expression, claim, or idea with little meaningful content.

Definition in Japanese

心や表情などに充実した感情がなく、空洞のように感じられるさま。kokoro ya hyō jō na do ni jū jitsu shi ta kan jō ga na ku kū dō no yō ni kan ji ra re ru sa ma

Word origin

The native Japanese word うつろ (utsuro) is written 虚ろ (utsuro), using 虚 (utsu, "empty") to convey a lack of inner substance; its older formation is not fully certain.

Usage tips

  • English speakers use hollow in phrases such as a hollow victory and a hollow promise, so the word can describe something that seems impressive but lacks genuine substance.

Other meanings

  • emptyna-adjective
  • vacantna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 虚ろさutsurosahollownessnoun

Word lists with this word