枯 kū dried out
dried out; withered; decayed
How to remember 枯: 木 tree + 古 old = dried out. Every day grandma waters the tree her father planted, but after the hot summer its old leaves hang dried out.
Component breakdown
枯 = 木 tree + 古 old
- 木 tree
- 古 old
Every day grandma waters the tree her father planted, but after the hot summer its old leaves hang dried out.
How it is used
- Withered/dried up (of plants, wells, resources) - 枯萎 (kūwěi) wilt, 干枯 (gānkū) dried out, 枯竭 (kūjié) exhausted/depleted: 资源枯竭 (zīyuán kūjié) resources run dry.
- 枯燥 (kūzào) = dry and dull/tedious: 枯燥无味 (kūzào-wúwèi) dry and boring. 枯 conveys a lifeless, sapped-dry state.