How to say "hollow" in Japanese

• 掘るほるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb sense: 'to hollow' as an act of digging or excavating; use it when hollowing is done by digging, as when digging a hole in the ground.
  彼かれらは穴あなをあけて石油せきゆを掘り当ほりあてようとした。↗

  They intended to drill for oil.
• 凹みへこみCommon
  nounA hollow in a surface: a dent, depression, or sunken spot. Use it when 'hollow' names a concave place, such as a dent or a dip in the ground.
  後うしろのドアにへこみができた。↗

  They had a dent in the rear door.
• 空っぽからっぽJLPT N2approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveCovers 'hollow' in the sense of empty or vacant, with nothing inside; use it where 'hollow' essentially means 'empty', as with a box or room that has nothing in it.
  町まちのどの家いえも空からっぽだった。↗

  All the houses in town were empty.
• 空洞くうどうCommon
  nounA cavity or hollow space, such as a cave or cavern; use it when 'hollow' refers to an actual hollow place or space inside something or in the ground.
• 中空ちゅうくうCommon
  no-adjectiveDescribes something that is hollow in the middle, with an empty interior; it conveys the 'hollow inside' quality of a thing rather than naming a particular hollow spot.
  虫むしに食い荒くいあらされて桃ももは中空ちゅうくうになっていた。↗

  The insect ate the peach hollow.

Use 「掘る」 for the verb 'to hollow' as an act of digging, 「凹み」 for a dent or sunken spot, 「空っぽ」 when 'hollow' means empty, 空洞 for a cavity such as a cave, and 中空 for something hollow inside.

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

• 掘るほるto dig
• 凹みへこみhollow
• 空っぽからっぽempty
• 空洞くうどうcavity
• 中空ちゅうくうhollow
• 洞ほらhollow
• 空疎くうそempty (e.g. argument)
• 虚うろhollow
• 窪くぼhollow
• くり抜くくりぬくto gouge out
• 虚ろうつろcavity
• 中低なかびくhollow
• ホローhollow
• 窪地くぼちhollow
• 刳りくりhollow
• 穴ぼこあなぼこhole
• がらんどうempty
• すcavity (in old root vegetables, tofu, metal casting, etc.)
• 凹おうconcave
• 凹所おうしょconcavity
• 白々しいしらじらしいbarefaced (e.g. lie)
• 穴あきあなあきpierced
• しらこいbarefaced (e.g. lie)
• 穴あなpit
• ぼこぼこhollow (sounding)
• からからempty