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N2

Kanji 乾: meanings, readings, and example words.

2 min read

Kanji 乾: drought, dry, desiccate, drink up, heaven, emperor

Key takeaways

Kanji 乾: drought, dry, desiccate, drink up, heaven, emperor. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

乾
N2

Meaning

droughtdrydesiccatedrink upheavenemperor

On reading

カンケン

Kun reading

かわ.くかわ.かすほ.すひ.るいぬい

Radical

乙

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 乾

drought, dry, desiccate, drink up, heaven, emperor

Kanji structure breakdown

乾

Structure breakdown

𠦝 + 乞

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

When the morning (𠦝) sun rises, the dew begins to evaporate. Imagine a drought so severe that people must beg (乞) for rain, representing the state of being 'dry'.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

カン
  • 乾燥かんそう

    dry / dryness / dehydration

  • 乾電池かんでんち

    dry cell / battery

  • 乾杯かんぱい

    toast (drink)

Kun reading

かわ.く
  • 乾かすかわかす

    to dry (clothes, etc.)

  • 乾くかわく

    to become dry / to dry

Commonly used words

  • 乾燥
    かんそう

    dry / dryness / dehydration

  • 乾電池
    かんでんち

    dry cell / battery

  • 乾杯
    かんぱい

    toast (drink)

  • 乾かす
    かわかす

    to dry (clothes, etc.)

  • 乾く
    かわく

    to become dry / to dry

Example sentences

Example 1

この肉は乾燥させてから食べます。

Translation

This meat is eaten after being dried.

Example 2

乾いた服をもう一度洗いました。

Translation

I washed the dried clothes again.

Example 3

洗った服を外で乾かす。

Translation

I dry the washed clothes outside.

Example 4

カーペットを日光で乾かす。

Translation

I dry the carpet in the sunlight.

Related word posts

Kanji 乾: drought, dry, desiccate, drink up, heaven, emperor | Daily Nihongo