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Kotomora

渴

thirsty, parched, yearn, pine

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • カツ

Kun'yomi

  • かわ.く
  • かわき

Meaning

渴 centers on a strong, urgent lack of water: being thirsty or parched. The extended senses of yearning or pining grow naturally from that same feeling of intense, unmet need.

Study

Etymology

渴 combines 氵 (water) with 曷, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of stopping or ceasing, suggesting a lack of water. The exact historical development of 曷 is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The water radical 氵 beside 曷 looks like a person gasping under the sun 日 with a container 勹, desperate for water. Picture someone parched, yearning for a drink.

Reading mnemonic

For カツ, imagine a thirsty person gulping down a whole cut of watermelon: cut -> カツ, and the water quenches the thirst.