Meanings of 虛
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About 虛
Podcast: 虛
Podcast: 虛
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AI Study Notes for 虛
虚 (xū) vs 空 (kōng) — choose 虚 when emphasizing deception or worthlessness, while 空 focuses on physical emptiness.
Common mistakes include confusing 虛 with its antonyms, such as 實 (shí), which means 'real' or 'solid.' This character is used more in formal contexts, especially in literature or philosophy. Be cautious with tone, as a mispronounced tone can lead to misunderstandings.
Although 虛 is not officially part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to words about emptiness or lack, such as 空 (kōng, empty). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in idiomatic expressions and as an adjective in descriptive contexts.
Learners often confuse 虛 with the similar-sounding words that have opposite meanings, such as 實 (shí, real). An incorrect usage would be '這是虛的事實' (zhè shì xū de shìshí), which means 'this is a false fact'—it’s better to say '這是假的事實' (zhè shì jiǎ de shìshí).
Pronunciation of 虛
Drill the tone of 虛 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 虛
A tiger 虍 stalking in the bushes 丱
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 虛
- 1The giveawayA tiger 虍 stalking in the bushes 丱
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 虛? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 虛?
Decomposition of 虛
Identify the Components
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How to say false; worthless, hollow, empty; vain in Chinese
“false; worthless, hollow, empty; vain” in Chinese is虛
The character 虛 (xū) refers to something that is false, worthless, or lacking substance. It can be used in various contexts, such as describing an empty promise or a hollow victory, emphasizing the idea of emptiness or deception.
When to use 虛
Common mistakes include confusing 虛 with its antonyms, such as 實 (shí), which means 'real' or 'solid.' This character is used more in formal contexts, especially in literature or philosophy. Be cautious with tone, as a mispronounced tone can lead to misunderstandings.
虛 or something close to it
虚 (xū) vs 空 (kōng) — choose 虚 when emphasizing deception or worthlessness, while 空 focuses on physical emptiness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 虛 with the similar-sounding words that have opposite meanings, such as 實 (shí, real). An incorrect usage would be '這是虛的事實' (zhè shì xū de shìshí), which means 'this is a false fact'—it’s better to say '這是假的事實' (zhè shì jiǎ de shìshí).
Write 虛
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Practice writing 虛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 虛
Compound Meaning
What does 虚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 虛
You might encounter 虛假 (xūjiǎ), meaning 'false' or 'deceptive,' or 虛無 (xūwú), which refers to 'nothingness' or 'void.'
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