Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hollow" in Korean
“Hollow” in Korean is 속이 빈 (pronounced "Sogi bbin").
속이 빈
Sogi bbin
Usage & Context
Sogi bbin is the Korean phrase for hollow. Hollow shapes are used in Korean design to create lightness and openness. They represent emptiness and potential.
Example Sentence
속이 빈 구조가 가벼워요.
The hollow structure is light.
How to use 속이 빈 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hollow” is 속이 빈, romanized as Sogi bbin.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 속이 빈.
Pronunciation Guide
속 (Sok) sounds like 'sok' in 'sock'. 이 (i) sounds like 'ee' in 'see'. 빈 (bin) sounds like 'bin' in 'bin'. The phrase flows smoothly, with '속이' pronounced almost as one unit.
More Example Sentences
Describing a natural object and its vulnerability.
속이 빈 나무는 쉽게 부러질 수 있어요.
A hollow tree can break easily.
Discussing the weight or contents of an object.
이 상자는 속이 비어서 아주 가벼워요.
This box is hollow inside, so it's very light.
Talking about food, especially baked goods.
속이 빈 빵은 겉은 커 보여도 실제로는 양이 적어요.
Hollow bread looks big on the outside but actually has little volume.
Cultural Context
The concept of 'emptiness' (비어있음) can hold philosophical significance in East Asian thought, sometimes representing potential, a state of readiness, or detachment. In everyday Korean, '속이 비었다' (to be hollow) can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is shallow or lacks substance, similar to 'empty-headed' in English.
Editorial note
We review entries like 속이 빈 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
속이 빈 공간
hollow space
속이 빈 소리
empty words, meaningless talk
속이 비다
to be hollow (base form of the phrase)
Related Expressions
텅 빈
teong bin
completely empty
가득 찬
gadeuk chan
full (antonym)
비어있는
bieoinneun
empty (general term)
공허한
gongheohan
hollow, empty (often metaphorical, e.g., an empty feeling)
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