empty

Compared meaning: containing nothing (adjective).

比较义项：空的，不含任何东西（形容词）。

• empty 本词

  The most general and common word for containing nothing; used for any space, container, or place, with no special formality or specific context.

  语气最普通、最常用的“空的”，可以用来形容任何空间、容器或场所，没有特殊的正式程度或使用场合限制。

  He found the fridge completely empty and had to order takeout.

  他发现冰箱里空空如也，只好叫外卖。

• vacant

  Specifically describes a place, seat, position, or building that is unoccupied though meant to be used; not used for containers like boxes or fridges.

  专指本该有人使用却无人占用的场所，例如座位、职位或建筑物；不用来形容箱子、冰箱等容器。

  The manager position has been vacant since she resigned last spring.

  经理这个职位自从她上个春天辞职后就一直空缺。

• void

  A formal, often literary word for something totally and utterly empty, emphasizing completeness; frequently appears in the phrase 'void of' or in legal use for something invalid.

  语气正式、偏文学化，强调“彻底空无”，常出现在“void of”（完全没有……）这一搭配中，也用于法律语境表示“无效”。

  The desert stretched for miles, utterly void of any trees or shade.

  那片沙漠绵延数英里，完全没有一棵树，也没有一丝树荫。

• blank

  Describes surfaces meant to carry writing, images, or information—paper, forms, screens—that have nothing on them; not used for physical spaces or rooms.

  专门形容纸张、表格、屏幕等本应写有文字、图像或信息却空无一物的表面；不用来形容房间等实际空间。

  She stared at the blank page, unable to think of how to begin.

  她盯着空白的一页，不知道该如何下笔。

All four can mean 'empty'. Empty is the most general, for any space. Vacant means a seat or job is unoccupied. Void is formal, stressing complete emptiness. Blank describes surfaces for writing, like paper. Not covered: vacant/blank as 'showing no expression', void as 'legally invalid'.

这四个词都能表示“空的”，但语气和适用场合不同：empty最通用，可以形容任何空间或容器；vacant专用于座位、职位、房屋等本该有人使用却无人占用的场合；void语气正式，强调“彻底空无”，常见于“void of”这类搭配，也可指法律上“无效”；blank专指纸张、表格、屏幕等本应写有内容却空白的表面。这里不比较vacant和blank表示“茫然的”（vacant stare、a blank look）的引申义，也不比较void表示“无效”（null and void）的法律义。

Compared meaning: having no real substance or value (adjective).

比较义项：空洞的，缺乏实质意义或价值的（形容词）。

• empty 本词

  Empty describes promises, words, apologies or gestures that seem sincere but carry no real intention or substance behind them, often implying insincerity or deception.

  empty 常用来形容承诺、言辞、道歉或姿态，表面看似诚恳，实则背后没有真正的意图或实质内容，常暗示虚伪或欺骗。

  His apology sounded empty, since he never actually changed his behavior afterward.

  他的道歉听起来很空洞，因为他之后根本没有真正改变自己的行为。

• meaningless

  Meaningless describes things such as data, symbols, actions or events that carry no sense or purpose at all, without suggesting any insincerity.

  meaningless 用于形容数据、符号、行为或事件等完全没有意义或目的的事物，不暗示任何虚伪的意味。

  A string of random letters is meaningless without a code to decode it.

  一串随机字母如果没有解码用的密码，就毫无意义。

Both can mean 'without real substance'. Empty describes promises, words, or gestures that seem sincere but carry no real intention, often suggesting insincerity. Meaningless describes things like data or actions that carry no sense or purpose, without suggesting insincerity. Not covered: empty meaning 'physically empty'.

empty 和 meaningless 在“空洞的、无实质意义”这一义项上意思相近，容易混淆；但 empty 更强调承诺、言辞等表面看似真诚、实则背后毫无实质内容，常暗示虚伪，而 meaningless 更中性，泛指完全没有意义或目的的事物或信息，不带虚伪的意味。这里不比较 empty 表示“空的、没有物品”的物理意义。