旱 hàn dry
dry; drought
How it came to be
The sun standing over a forked pole, which is here for the sound. The character says sun and nothing else: no rain anywhere in it.
How it is used
- Drought / dry (land, as opposed to water) - 干旱 (gānhàn) drought/arid, 旱灾 (hànzāi) drought disaster, 旱季 (hànjì) dry season.
- 旱 also = 'on land' opposed to water: 旱路 (hànlù) overland route, 旱冰 (hànbīng) roller-skating. Antonym of 涝 (lào, waterlogging): 旱涝 = drought and flood - 城市内涝 (chéngshì nèilào) flooding in the city.