How to say "cavity" in Japanese

• 空洞くうどうCommon
  nounAn enclosed hollow space inside something solid — a cavern underground, a hollow in a tree trunk, or a cavity that forms in the lungs. This is the 'empty space within' sense of cavity.
• 凹みへこみCommon
  nounA dent or depression: a place where a surface or the ground dips inward, such as a dent in a car door. Not an enclosed space — choose this for the 'dent' sense of cavity.
  後うしろのドアにへこみができた。↗

  They had a dent in the rear door.
• 洞ほらCommon
  nounA cave or natural hollow in rock or a hillside. It overlaps with 穴 and 空洞, and unless you have a particular reason to use it, one of those is usually the better choice.
• 穴あなJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general-purpose word for a hole: a pit or hollow in the ground, or a hole in an object. Use this when 'cavity' means simply a hole rather than an enclosed hollow space.

Use 空洞 for an enclosed hollow space inside something, 「凹み」 for a dent or depression in a surface, 穴 for an ordinary hole or pit, and 洞 mainly for caves and natural hollows.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 空洞くうどうcavity
• 凹みへこみhollow
• 洞ほらhollow
• 虚うろhollow
• 虚ろうつろcavity
• 窪くぼhollow
• キャビティーcavity
• すcavity (in old root vegetables, tofu, metal casting, etc.)
• 腔こうcavity
• 洞どうsinus
• 穴あなpit