干

• Pinyin: gān
• Hanzi breakdown: 干 = simplified form merging 乾 (dry) and 幹 (do); here used for the 'dry' meaning

Meaning

Dry; dried. Describes the absence of moisture.

Used to describe dry weather, dry skin, dry food, etc. Common in compounds like 干净 (clean), 干燥 (arid). In daily speech: 衣服干了 (the clothes are dry). Also used for dried foods: 干果 (dried fruit).

Examples

1. 衣服已经干了。 The clothes are already dry.
2. 今天天气很干。 The weather is very dry today.
3. 我的嘴很干，想喝水。 My lips are very dry; I want to drink water.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 天气太干了，要多喝水。(The weather is too dry; drink more water.)
• 衣服晒干了。(The clothes have dried in the sun.)

Don't Say

• 水很干。(Water itself cannot be 'dry' — 干 describes things that should have moisture but don't)

Origin & History

Originally written as 乾 (dry, as opposed to 坤 wet/earth). The simplified form 干 merged several characters, so context determines whether it means 'dry' or 'to do.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal