燥
燥·dry
- On-yomi
- ソウ
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 乾燥 | かんそう | drying, dryness |
| 焦燥 | しょうそう | impatience, fretting |
| 乾燥機 | かんそうき | dryer |
| 乾燥肌 | かんそうはだ | dry skin |
Example sentences
冬は空気が乾燥するので喉が痛くなる。
ふゆはくうきがかんそうするのでのどがいたくなる。
In winter the air dries out and my throat gets sore.
結果を待つ間、焦燥感に駆られて眠れなかった。
けっかをまつあいだ、しょうそうかんにかられてねむれなかった。
Waiting for the result, I was too restless to sleep.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
- 燥操操 (そう, to handle) shares the right side 喿 but takes the hand radical 扌.
- 燥躁躁 (mania) uses the same 喿 with the foot radical.
Common mistakes
- Reading 乾燥 as かんぞう — it is かんそう
- 燥 never stands alone; it only appears inside compounds like 乾燥 and 焦燥
Memory aid
Picture it
The fire radical 火 on the left: heat pulling every last drop of water out.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 燥 mean?