akikan ha koko desu.

空き缶 means empty can or empty cans, usually beverage cans.

• 空き = empty
• 缶 = can, tin

In real life, this word is very common on trash and recycling signs. So in this sentence, it probably means the place for empty cans rather than talking about one specific can.

Because 空き includes okurigana: hiragana attached to a kanji-based word.

Here:

• 空 carries the main meaning empty
• き is the hiragana part that completes the word form
• 缶 is the kanji for can

This mixed writing is normal in Japanese. Japanese often uses kanji + hiragana together in one word.

It is pronounced:

あきかん は ここ です

More naturally as one sentence:

あきかん は ここです

A few notes:

• 空き缶 = あきかん
• The particle は is written ha but pronounced wa when it marks the topic
• ここ = koko
• です = desu; in careful speech it sounds close to desu, but in everyday speech the u is often very light

Because when は is used as the topic particle, it is pronounced wa, not ha.

So in this sentence:

• written: 空き缶はここです
• pronounced: あきかん wa ここです

This is one of the first spelling-vs-pronunciation differences learners meet in Japanese.

は marks the topic: as for empty cans...

So the sentence has the feeling of:

• As for empty cans, here.
• more natural English: Empty cans go here.

Using は makes sense on a sign, because the sign is talking about a category or topic.

If you used が, the nuance would be different. が tends to identify or focus on the subject more directly. For a simple sorting or location label, は is more natural.

Because ここ is the predicate part of A は B です.

This sentence follows the pattern:

• 空き缶 = topic
• は = topic marker
• ここ = here
• です = polite copula

So ここです means is here.

You do not need に here.

Compare:

• 空き缶はここです。 = Empty cans are here / Empty cans go here.
• 空き缶はここにあります。 = The empty cans are here.

The second sentence uses a location particle and a verb. The original sentence is shorter and very natural for a sign.

です is the polite copula. It makes the sentence polite and complete.

In beginner terms, it often acts a bit like is / am / are, though it does not match English perfectly.

So:

• ここです = is here
• 空き缶はここです = Empty cans are here / Empty cans go here

On signs and in polite speech, です is very common.

Japanese nouns usually do not show singular vs. plural the way English does.

So 空き缶 can mean:

• an empty can
• empty cans
• empty-can items as a category

You decide from context.

In this sentence, especially if it is on a sign, it most likely means empty cans in general.

Yes, especially in a context like:

• a recycling station
• a trash-sorting area
• a sign showing where to put cans

It sounds short and practical, which is normal for signs.

In full conversational Japanese, someone might also say:

• 空き缶はここに置いてください。 = Please put empty cans here.
• 空き缶はここに入れてください。 = Please put empty cans in here.

So the original sentence is natural, but it sounds like a label or instruction sign more than everyday conversation.

Normally, Japanese is written without spaces:

空き缶はここです。

The spaced version:

空き缶　は　ここ　です。

is usually just for learners, to make the parts easier to see.

So the natural written form is the one without spaces.

Not exactly in the most literal sense.

A very literal breakdown is closer to:

• As for empty cans, here.

But natural English depends on context. On a sign, the best translation is often:

• Empty cans go here.
• This is for empty cans.

So even if you were shown The empty cans are here, the Japanese often works more like a category label than a full descriptive sentence about specific cans.