Translation guide
The English word 'drying' can refer to the process of removing moisture from something, or the state of becoming dry. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 乾燥 (kansō), but other words and phrases are used depending on what is being dried and how.
Expressing the act of removing moisture or the state of becoming dry, in a general sense.
The most common and versatile word for 'drying'. Can be used as a noun or a suru-verb (乾燥する). Applies to air, skin, food, laundry, etc.
The air is dry.
Specifically means to hang something out to dry, typically laundry or food. A transitive verb.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to become dry'. Used when something dries on its own.
Referring to the process of drying food to preserve it.
Also used for food drying, often in compound words like 乾燥食品 (dried food).
Using a machine to dry something, like a clothes dryer or hair dryer.
When a river, well, or other water source dries up.
乾燥 (kansō) is a general noun/suru-verb for drying. 干す (hosu) specifically means to hang something out to dry, like laundry. 乾かす (kawakasu) is the transitive verb 'to dry something' (e.g., with a dryer). 乾く (kawaku) is intransitive 'to become dry'.
乾く (kawaku) means 'to dry' in general. 渇く (kawaku) means 'to be thirsty' (throat). They are homophones but written with different kanji.
I dry the laundry.
I hang the laundry outside to dry.
The laundry has dried.
I dry fruit to preserve it.
Specifically refers to dried fish or other seafood, a common preserved food in Japan.
Dried fish is a traditional preserved food in Japan.
A drying machine. Often used in compounds like 衣類乾燥機 (clothes dryer) or 髪乾燥機 (hair dryer, though ドライヤー is more common).
I dry the laundry with a dryer.
Hair dryer. Loanword from English, very common.
I dry my hair with a hair dryer.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to dry up' (completely), often used for rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
The river dried up due to drought.
Also means 'to dry up', but more literary and often used for wells or springs. Can also mean 'to wither' for plants.
The well dried up.