noun
starvation; dying of hunger
Refers to the state of starving or dying from lack of food. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
昔は干乾しで亡くなる人も多かった。
In the past, many people died of starvation.
遭難者は干乾しの危機に瀕していた。
The survivors were on the verge of starvation.
飢餓 is a more formal and technical term for famine or starvation, often used in academic or news contexts, while 干乾し is more literary and emotive.
餓死 specifically means 'death from starvation', focusing on the outcome, whereas 干乾し can refer to the state of starving without necessarily implying death.
Compound of 干 (hi, 'to dry up') and 乾し (hoshi, 'drying'), literally 'drying up', metaphorically extended to mean starvation.