燥 (zào) - Dry & arid

燥Tone 4

zào ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

燥 · zào

Dry;

arid;

parched;

lacking moisture;

desiccated.

Dryaridparched

Usage highlights

Dry climateHot and dryDry throatEliminate drynessDry coughArid wind

Synonyms

  • 干— dry; lacking moisture
  • 枯— withered; dried up

Antonyms

  • 湿— wet; damp; humid
  • 润— moist; lubricated

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The climate is very dry (气候干燥).
  • My throat feels parched (口干舌燥).
  • The wood became brittle when dried (木头干燥后变脆).
  • He spoke with an irritable tone (心浮气燥地说话).

Collocations

  • Dry climate(干燥气候)
  • Hot and dry(燥热)
  • Dry throat(嗓子燥)
  • Eliminate dryness(去燥)
  • Dry cough(燥咳)
  • Arid wind(燥风)

Idioms

  • Dry-mouthed and tongue-parched(口干舌燥)
  • Restless and irritable(心浮气燥)
  • Dry and desolate hills and fields(山野枯燥)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Traditional Chinese Medicine, 'dryness' (燥) is one of the six pathogenic factors, associated with autumn and believed to damage the lungs and body fluids.
  • The character reflects the fundamental importance of moisture balance in Chinese philosophy of health and environment.
  • Often used metaphorically to describe irritability, impatience, or a lack of inspiration (e.g., 枯燥 meaning dull or monotonous).

FAQ