About

The word **干燥 (gānzào)** is a compound formed by combining two characters with closely related meanings to emphasize and specify the concept of "dryness." The first character, **干 (gān)**, primarily means "dry" or "arid," often referring to a lack of water. The second character, **燥 (zào)**, carries a more intense or specific connotation of "parched," "dry to the point of cracking," or "devoid of moisture." When paired together in modern Chinese, they create a coordinative (or synonymous) compound where each character reinforces the other, resulting in a term that comprehensively describes a state of being dry, whether referring to objects, climates, or even metaphorical contexts like dull writing. This method of combining semantically similar characters is a common and logical way to form precise vocabulary in Chinese.

Word Definition - 干燥

gān zào (of weather, climate, soil etc) dry; arid; (of skin, mouth etc) dry; (fig.) dull; dry; boring; (of timber etc) to dry out; to season; to cure