Quick answer
乾 is the kanji for "Dry". Its reading is かわ.く (kawaku). This page includes example sentences and a stroke-order diagram.
Meaning
Dry
Also : Drought · Desiccate · Drink up · Emperor
Learn 乾 with SRS
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Readings
kun = Japanese reading · on = Chinese reading
Practice writing
Trace the kanji stroke by stroke with a visual guide.
Stroke Order
11 strokes
Radicals
Memory Aid
The kanji 乾 represents 'DROUGHT'. Think of this shape as a picture representing the concept of drought.
On-reading: かん — remember this sound by associating it with drought. Kun-reading: かわ.く.
Example Sentences
洗濯物を乾燥機で乾かしたら、ふんわりして気持ちよかったです。
せんたくものをかんそうきでかわかしたら、ふんわりしてきもちよかったです。
When I dried the laundry in the dryer, it was fluffy and comfortable.
乾杯の挨拶は手短にしてください、という司会の言葉に苦笑しました。
かんぱいのあいさつはてみじかにしてください、というしかいのことばにくしょうしました。
I smiled wryly at the emcee's words 'please keep the toast speech brief.'
Vocabulary using 乾
Grammar to study at this level
- [Noun] + に伴い～に伴い (ni tomonai) - Along with / In accordance with
- [Noun] + をはじめ～をはじめ (wo hajime) - Starting with / Including
- [Noun] + に応じて～に応じて (ni oujite) - According to / In response to
- [Noun] + から + [Noun] + にかけて～にかけて (ni kakete) - From...to / In the area of
- [Noun] + に限り～に限り (ni kagiri) - Limited to / Only
Last updated Jun 17, 2026
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