空・虚|そらsora[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounsky; the air; the heavens
   ワシが空そらを飛とんでいる。↗

   An eagle is flying in the sky.
2. nounweather
3. nounfar-off place; distant place
4. nounstate of mind; feelingoften as 〜空もない
5. noun(from) memory; (by) heartusu. as 空で
6. nounfalsehood; lie
7. noun (prefix)somehow; vaguelybefore an adjective
8. noun (prefix)fakebefore a noun or a verb

• Synonym天てんWrittenWritten word for the sky that also covers heaven and divine will, as in 「天の恵み」; carries a religious or abstract nuance 「空」 lacks.
• Synonym大空おおぞらNeutralThe wide open sky, with a sense of vastness, as in 「大空を飛ぶ」; mostly literary or in song lyrics rather than everyday speech.
• Synonym天空てんくうWrittenWritten word for the broad sky with a solemn feel, as in 「天空の城」; in everyday speech people just say 「空」.
• SynonymスカイCasualLoanword for sky, used mostly in compounds like 「スカイツリー」 and 「スカイダイビング」 rather than on its own.
• Synonym空中くうちゅうNeutralThe space above the ground, midair, as in 「空中に浮く」; focuses on position in the air rather than the sky itself.
• Synonym宙ちゅうNeutralMidair where something hangs suspended, as in 「宙に浮く」; also means from memory, as in 「宙で言う」.
• Synonym天上てんじょうWrittenWritten word for the heavens or the heavenly realm; it can also mean ascending to heaven, i.e. death, giving it a religious color.
• Synonym上天じょうてんWrittenWritten word for the heavens above or the Creator; carries a religious nuance, unlike everyday 「空」.

「空」 is the default word for the sky. Use 「大空」 for a sense of vast open sky, 「天」 for religious or abstract heaven, 「空中」 or 「宙」 for midair position, and 「スカイ」 mainly in compounds.

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

1. （そら）海面かいめん等とう水面すいめんを含ふくんだ地上ちじょうの上方かみがたに広ひろがる領域りょういき、空間くうかん。天てん。
2. （そら）天候てんこう。
3. （そら）場所ばしょ。
4. （そら）気持きもち。
5. （そら）何なんも見みたり教おしえてもらったりせず、当人とうにんの記憶きおくだけに頼たよる状態じょうたい。
6. （クウ　仏教ぶっきょう）万物ばんぶつは因縁いんねんによる仮かりの姿すがたであり実体じったいはないという概念がいねん。