干燥

• Pinyin: gān zào
• Hanzi breakdown: 干 = 一 + 十 (dry, bare); 燥 = 火 + 喿 (parched — fire radical suggests heat-induced dryness)

Meaning

Dry; arid; lacking moisture. Describes a low-humidity state of the air, climate, skin, or materials.

Versatile adjective used for weather (空气干燥), materials (木材干燥), and skin (皮肤干燥). Unlike 干旱, 干燥 does not imply drought or disaster; it simply describes dryness. Can also be used figuratively for a dull or lifeless prose style (文风干燥).

Examples

1. 北方冬季室内暖气全面开放，空气极为干燥，建议使用加湿器维持适宜的室内湿度。 In northern winters, with indoor heating fully on, the air becomes extremely dry; it’s recommended to use a humidifier to maintain comfortable humidity indoors.
2. 皮肤长期处于干燥环境中容易出现脱皮和皲裂现象，需及时涂抹保湿产品加以防护。 When skin stays in a dry environment for a long time, it can easily peel and crack, so you should apply moisturizer in time for protection.
3. 木材在精加工前须经过充分的干燥处理，以防日后使用中因含水率过高而发生变形开裂。 Before fine processing, wood must be thoroughly dried to prevent warping and cracking later from excessive moisture content.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, health, materials, weather

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这款保湿霜专为敏感干燥肌肤设计，能有效锁住水分，防止皮肤因缺水而出现干裂。(This moisturiser is specially designed for sensitive, dry skin, effectively locking in moisture and preventing cracking caused by dehydration.)
• 图书馆的文物保存室常年维持恒温干燥的环境，以最大限度延缓纸质文献的老化速度。(The museum's conservation room is kept at a constant temperature and kept dry year-round to maximally slow the ageing of paper documents.)

Don't Say

• 这个地区正在经历干燥 — 干燥 describes a physical state, not a weather event; for prolonged water shortage use 干旱; say 这个地区气候非常干燥 instead

Origin & History

干 (dry) + 燥 (dry/parched)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal