空き缶（あきかん、akikan）
- empty can

The Japanese word 空き缶 空き缶 means "empty can" or "used can." It refers to a container, typically made of metal (aluminum or steel), that once held a beverage or food and is now devoid of its contents. This word specifically denotes a can that has been emptied and is no longer in use.

⚫︎ジュースの空き缶 Translation: Empty juice can ⚫︎空き缶］をリサイクルする Translation: To recycle empty cans ⚫︎道に空き缶が捨ててある Translation: There are empty cans thrown on the road.

You can use 空き缶 in various contexts, from everyday conversations about recycling and garbage disposal to describing the presence of litter. It is a common word, particularly in discussions about environmental issues or cleanup efforts. You would use this word when talking about a can that is no longer in use.

⚫︎The word is typically written using the kanji 空 (meaning "empty") and the hiragana き (a grammatical particle) and the kanji 缶 (meaning "can"). ⚫︎The reading is あきかん in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎The okurigana is fixed, and there are no variations.

There are no perfect single-word synonyms for 空き缶. Words like "empty container" (which would be a more general term) or "used can" are close equivalents in English but not direct Japanese equivalents. You could use 缶 alone, though it would just mean "can."

The direct antonym of 空き缶 would depend on the context. If referring to the contents, a filled can could be an antonym. Other options depend on what aspect is being contrasted.

公園に空き缶がたくさん落ちている。 ・Translation: There are many empty cans lying in the park. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the problem of littering, using 空き缶 to refer to the discarded cans.

空き缶］は資源ごみとして回収されます。 ・Translation: Empty cans are collected as recyclable waste. ・Explanation: This sentence explains how 空き缶 are handled in terms of waste management.

The word 空き缶 is a compound word. 空き comes from the adjective 空（あ）く, meaning "to become empty" or "vacant." 缶（かん） means "can." Therefore, 空き缶 literally means "empty can."