枯れ木 (かれき) Japanese meaning | KotomoraAfter the forest fire, only dead trees remained.
Usage patterns
枯れ木が倒れるfor a dead tree to fall over
A dead tree fell over in the strong wind.
枯れ木を切るto cut down a dead/withered tree
I had the dead tree in the garden cut down.
枯れ木のような〈人〉a person as gaunt/withered-looking as a bare tree
The old man had hands as gaunt as a withered tree.
Expressions
枯れ木も山の賑わいhalf a loaf is better than none; even a dead tree adds to the interest of a mountain
こぼく
Alternate reading of the kanji-only spelling; less common than かれき.