涸

hé

固 + 氵

Definitions

hé to dry; to dry up

Etymology

To run out 氵 of strength 固; 固 also provides the pronunciation

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 涸 combines the water radical 氵 on the left, linking it to water, moisture, or liquid. The right component 固 serves as the phonetic element, meaning “solid,” which can subtly suggest the hardening of land when water vanishes. This character specifically describes the complete drying up of rivers, lakes, or other water sources, indicating severe depletion and a shift to an arid state. It often appears in compounds related to drought, exhausted resources, or desiccated environments.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

河水已经干涸了。

Héshuǐ yǐjīng gānhé le.

The river has already dried up.

长期的干旱使这片湖泊逐渐涸竭。

Chángqī de gānhàn shǐ zhè piàn húpō zhújiàn héjié.

The prolonged drought has gradually dried up this lake.

土地因缺水而变得干涸开裂。

Tǔdì yīn quē shuǐ ér biànde gānhé kāiliè.

The land has become dry, cracked, and parched due to lack of water.

我们必须节约用水，防止水库涸竭。

Wǒmen bìxū jiéyuē yòngshuǐ, fángzhǐ shuǐkù héjié.

We must conserve water to prevent the reservoir from running dry.

过度开采地下水会导致地下水源涸竭。

Guòdù kāicǎi dìxiàshuǐ huì dǎozhì dìxià shuǐyuán héjié.

Over-exploitation of groundwater will lead to the depletion of underground water sources.

他的灵感像一口永不涸竭的泉水。

Tā de línggǎn xiàng yī kǒu yǒng bù héjié de quánshuǐ.

His inspiration is like a spring that never runs dry.

在沙漠中，找到一处未涸的水源至关重要。

Zài shāmò zhōng, zhǎodào yī chù wèi hé de shuǐyuán zhìguān zhòngyào.

In the desert, finding an unfailing water source is crucial.

人类对自然的无尽索取终将使生命之泉涸竭。

Rénlèi duì zìrán de wújìn suǒqǔ zhōng jiāng shǐ shēngmìng zhī quán héjié.

Humanity's endless exploitation of nature will eventually dry up the spring of life.

Related Characters

Component: 固

Component: 氵

涸