枯渇

• Reading: こかつ
• Romaji: kokatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 枯 (ko/ka) — wither, dry up; 渇 (katsu) — thirst, dry
• Pronunciation: /ko.ka.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Drying up; depletion; exhaustion of a resource or supply.

A noun (also する verb) originally describing a water source drying up, now widely used for the depletion of any resource — financial, creative, human, or natural. Common in journalism and academic writing. The metaphor of a well running dry underpins many figurative uses.

Examples

1. 長引く干ばつで地下水が枯渇し、農業に深刻な影響が出ている。 Due to a prolonged drought, the groundwater has dried up, seriously affecting agriculture.
2. 資金が枯渇しては、事業の継続が難しくなる。 If funds are depleted, it becomes difficult to continue the business.
3. インスピレーションが枯渇した作家は、旅に出ることにした。 The writer, whose inspiration had run dry, decided to go on a journey.

Usage Guide

Context: resources, environment, finance, creativity

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From 枯 (ko, wither/dry) and 渇 (katsu, thirst/dry up). Both characters relate to dryness and lack of moisture, making this compound semantically transparent in its original meaning.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal