Japanese word of the day: 空 (Sora)

What does 空 (Sora) mean?

空 (そら, Sora) is a noun meaning “sky” in Japanese. It refers to the vast space above us—blue on sunny days, gray when it’s cloudy, and full of stars at night. It’s a simple word, but it pops up in all kinds of conversations, songs, and even poetry.

Kanji details for 空

Character: 空 — empty, sky, void, vacant, vacuum
Radical: cave 穴

Example sentences with 空 (Sora)

• 空が青いですね。
  (Sora ga aoi desu ne.)
  ☀️ The sky is blue, isn’t it?

• 夜の空に星が見えます。
  (Yoru no sora ni hoshi ga miemasu.)
  🌌 You can see stars in the night sky.

• 飛行機が空を飛んでいます。
  (Hikouki ga sora o tondeimasu.)
  ✈️ An airplane is flying in the sky.

空 (Sora) in context

You’ll use 空 when talking about the weather, describing scenery, or just making small talk. It’s also a word that shows up in lots of Japanese song lyrics and anime titles—so you’ll probably hear it more often than you think.

A quick tip:
If you want to say “sky blue,” use 空色 (そらいろ, sorairo). If you’re talking about “empty” as in an empty room or box, that’s also 空, but pronounced から (kara)—same kanji, different meaning!

Whether you’re watching the clouds drift by or admiring a sunset, 空 is the perfect word to capture the beauty above us.