The molybdenum disulphide (MoS$_2$) nanoparticles have been widely applied as solid lubricants. In this article, hollow core-shell MoS$_2$ nanoparticles with flower-like surface were prepared by a two-step solvothermal method,which were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The friction and wear properties of the prepared hollow core-shell MoS$_2$ nanoparticles in oils were investigated using a ball-on-disk tribotester. The results showed that the prepared hollow core-shell MoS$_2$ nanoparticles could significantly improve the friction-reducing and antiwear properties of the oils. It was found that the friction coefficient was reduced by 43.80% and the wear was decreased by as much as 8 times after adding the hollow MoS$_2$ into oils. The lubrication mechanism of the fabricated hollow MoS$_2$ nanoparticles in oils was interpreted as that the hollow MoS$_2$ nanoparticles were exfoliated into layeropened fragments with the formation of ultrathin nanosheets, which were beneficial to the formation of the tribofilm on rubbing surfaces.