Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
空儿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
空儿kòngrspare timeHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #33906, Medium
空儿kòngrfree timeHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #33906, Medium
kòngr(kong4r5)kong r T4
  1. 1spare time
  2. 2free time
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

空儿(空兒)kòngr(kong4r5)

空儿 (kòngr) refers to free time or spare time when one is not occupied with work or responsibilities. It is commonly used in informal contexts to discuss leisure activities or moments of relaxation.

Strokes10Frequency#33906DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of having free time is often associated with the importance of balance between work and leisure. People may plan their free time carefully to ensure they can enjoy family gatherings or personal hobbies.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, empty room (空) where you have all the time in the world (儿) to relax and do whatever you please. The character 空 evokes the image of space or emptiness, suggesting that this is a time when you are free from obligations.

Meanings of 空儿

kòngr(kong4r5)
1spare time
2free time
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 空儿 means.

About 空儿

空儿Simplified
空兒Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 空儿

JasonAmy

Podcast: 空儿

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 空儿

Quick Contrast

空闲 (kòngxián) — use 空儿 (kòngr) for more casual, informal contexts, while 空闲 (kòngxián) is slightly more formal.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is to confuse 空儿 with similar terms like 休息 (xiūxí), which means 'rest.' Remember that 空儿 specifically refers to unoccupied time, not necessarily rest. It's used more in informal conversations, so be cautious using it in formal writing.

HSK Study Tips

空儿 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it is useful for learners at HSK level 3 and above who want to express concepts related to time management and leisure. Focus on using it in conversational contexts to enhance fluency.

Common Mistakes

Learners often incorrectly use 空儿 to mean 'vacation' or 'holiday,' which is not accurate. Instead, use 假期 (jiàqī) for vacation and reserve 空儿 for discussing everyday free time.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 空儿

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 空儿 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 空儿 to You

Let me explain 空儿 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 空儿 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 空儿?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 空儿 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component Characters

空kōngempty
HSK 48 strokes穴
View full entry
儿érson
HSK 72 strokes儿
View full entry

How to say spare time in Chinese

“spare time” in Chinese is空儿kòngr

空儿 (kòngr) refers to free time or spare time when one is not occupied with work or responsibilities. It is commonly used in informal contexts to discuss leisure activities or moments of relaxation.

When to use 空儿

A common mistake is to confuse 空儿 with similar terms like 休息 (xiūxí), which means 'rest.' Remember that 空儿 specifically refers to unoccupied time, not necessarily rest. It's used more in informal conversations, so be cautious using it in formal writing.

空儿 or something close to it

空闲 (kòngxián) — use 空儿 (kòngr) for more casual, informal contexts, while 空闲 (kòngxián) is slightly more formal.

What learners get wrong

Learners often incorrectly use 空儿 to mean 'vacation' or 'holiday,' which is not accurate. Instead, use 假期 (jiàqī) for vacation and reserve 空儿 for discussing everyday free time.

Write 空儿

空
儿

Practice writing 空儿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 空儿?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 空儿

You can say, '我今天下午有空儿,' which means 'I have free time this afternoon.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 空儿?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab