渴 (kě) - Thirsty & to thirst for

渴Tone 3

kě ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

渴 · kě

Thirsty;

to thirst for;

to yearn for;

to crave.

Thirstyto thirst forto yearn for

Usage highlights

ThirstyTo thirst forTo quench thirstThirsty and tiredThirst for knowledgeDry and thirsty

Synonyms

  • 饥— hungry (often paired with 渴 for 'eager')
  • 欲— desire, wish

Antonyms

  • 饱— full, satiated
  • 足— sufficient, satisfied

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I am thirsty (我渴了).
  • He is thirsty for knowledge (他渴望知识).
  • The land is dry and thirsty (干渴的土地).
  • She has a strong thirst for learning (她有强烈的求知欲).

Collocations

  • Thirsty(口渴)
  • To thirst for(渴望)
  • To quench thirst(解渴)
  • Thirsty and tired(渴累)
  • Thirst for knowledge(求知欲)
  • Dry and thirsty(干渴)

Idioms

  • Drawing poison to quench thirst(饮鸩止渴)
  • Yearning for plum blossoms to quench thirst(望梅止渴)
  • Like a hungry wolf, like a thirsty tiger(如饥似渴)
  • Thirsty for talent(渴求人才)
  • Thirsty for love(渴望爱情)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines water (氵) with the phonetic component 曷, suggesting a state of needing water.
  • In Chinese medicine, 'thirst' can indicate imbalances in the body's fluid systems.
  • The concept extends metaphorically to strong desires beyond physical thirst, such as knowledge or success.

FAQ