虚しい（むなしい）
JLPT N3 · i-adjective
Pitch accent: nakadaka (middle-high) — pitch drops after mora 3
Meaning: empty/vain
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| te-form | 虚しくて | むなしくて |
| ta-form (past) | 虚しかった | むなしかった |
| nai-form (negative) | 虚しくない | むなしくない |
Example sentences
- いくら努力しても報われず、虚しい。 — No matter how hard I try, it goes unrewarded, and it feels empty.
- 一人の部屋が虚しく感じる。 — Being alone in the room feels hollow.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “虚しい” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)