Chinese–EnglishWith examples

凭空

píng kōng · ping kong

Traditional 憑空

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. baseless (lie)
  2. without foundation
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

The missing cookies

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)不能(bùnéng)凭空(píngkōng)说(shuō)是(shì)我(wǒ)吃(chī)了(le)你(nǐ)的(de)饼干(bǐnggān)！

    You can't just claim from nothing that I ate your cookies!

  2. Dengdeng

    可是(kěshì)饼干(bǐnggān)凭空(píngkōng)消失(xiāoshī)了(le)。

    But the cookies vanished into thin air.

  3. Liangliang

    饼干(bǐnggān)不会(bùhuì)凭空(píngkōng)消失(xiāoshī)，一定(yīdìng)有(yǒu)原因(yuányīn)。

    Cookies don't vanish into thin air. There must be a reason.

  4. Dengdeng

    原因(yuányīn)是(shì)……你(nǐ)的(de)嘴边(zuǐbiān)有(yǒu)饼干屑(bǐnggānxiè)。

    The reason is... you have cookie crumbs by your mouth.

  5. Liangliang

    好吧(hǎoba)，这次(zhècì)你(nǐ)不是(bùshì)凭空(píngkōng)说(shuō)的(de)。

    Okay, this time you didn't make it up.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

你(nǐ)不(bù)能(néng)凭(píng)空(kōng)指(zhǐ)责(zé)别(bié)人(rén)，要(yào)有(yǒu)证(zhèng)据(jù)。

You can't accuse others without any basis; you need evidence.

02

这(zhè)些(xiē)数(shù)字(zì)不(bú)是(shì)凭(píng)空(kōng)想(xiǎng)出(chū)来(lái)的(de)，都(dōu)有(yǒu)记(jì)录(lù)。

These numbers weren't made up out of thin air; they're all on record.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context