HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5843, Medium
渴
kě
thirsty, parched; to yearn, to pine for
HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5843, Medium
kě(ke3) T3
1thirsty
2thirsty, parched; to yearn, to pine for
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
渴kě(ke3)
The character 渴 (kě) primarily means 'thirsty' and describes a physical sensation of needing water. It can also convey a sense of yearning or longing for something, making it applicable in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as a desire for knowledge or love.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#5843DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of thirst is often connected to the idea of balance and harmony in health, emphasizing the importance of hydration, especially in hot climates. Traditional Chinese medicine often discusses thirst in relation to body balance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a parched traveler in the desert, desperately searching for water. The character 渴 looks like a river (氵) flowing under a sun (可), symbolizing how water is vital when you're thirsty.
Meanings of 渴
kě(ke3)
1thirsty
2thirsty, parched; to yearn, to pine for
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 渴
渴Simplified
12Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5843Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 渴
Podcast: 渴
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 渴
Quick Contrast
口渴 (kǒu kě) - specifically refers to being thirsty in the mouth, while 渴 (kě) can describe a broader sense of thirst or longing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a parched traveler in the desert, desperately searching for water. The character 渴 looks like a river (氵) flowing under a sun (可), symbolizing how water is vital when you're thirsty.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 渴 with other words for 'thirsty' like 渴望 (kěwàng, to yearn for). Ensure you use 渴 when specifically referring to physical thirst. It's most often used in informal contexts, and be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 渴 can be paired with words like 水 (shuǐ, water) or 喝 (hē, to drink) for practical sentences. Focus on using it in contexts related to food and drink to enhance conversational skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of thirst is often connected to the idea of balance and harmony in health, emphasizing the importance of hydration, especially in hot climates. Traditional Chinese medicine often discusses thirst in relation to body balance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 渴 in formal contexts where a more neutral term like 口渴 might be appropriate. For example, saying '我渴' in a business meeting may sound too informal; instead, use '我口渴' for a more suitable expression.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 渴
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 渴 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 渴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 渴
渴 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
There are thousands of students absolutely gagging to come to this university.
10
她仍旧渴望拥有婚姻中逝去的那份缱绻和肌肤之亲。
tā réng jiù kě wàng yōng yǒu hūn yīn zhōng shì qù de nà fèn qiǎn quǎn hé jī fū zhī qīn。
She still ached for the lost intimacy and sexual contact of marriage.
Cultural Notes for 渴
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, staying hydrated is very important. When someone is thirsty, it's common to offer them water or tea, which symbolizes hospitality.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of thirst is often connected to the idea of balance and harmony in health, emphasizing the importance of hydration, especially in hot climates. Traditional Chinese medicine often discusses thirst in relation to body balance.
Word Family of 渴
Words Containing This Character14
渴望kěwàngto thirst for
渴kěthirsty
饥渴hungry and thirsty飢渴
口渴thirsty
渴求to long for
解渴to quench
如饥似渴to long for sth如飢似渴
干渴parched乾渴
消渴condition characterized by thirst, hunger, frequent urination and weight loss, identified in TCM with type 2 diabetes
饮鸩止渴fig. a supposed remedy that only makes matters worse飲鴆止渴
望梅止渴fig. to console oneself with illusions
渴慕to thirst for
远水不解近渴a slow remedy does not address immediate needs遠水不解近渴
临渴掘井lit. not to dig a well until one is thirsty臨渴掘井
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 渴望 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 渴
Synonyms for 渴 include 口渴 (kǒu kě), which specifically means 'thirsty,' and 渴望 (kěwàng), which means 'to yearn for.' These terms can be used interchangeably depending on the context.
Yes, 渴 is commonly used in everyday conversation when talking about thirst or a desire for something. It's a basic word that HSK 1 learners should know for practical communication.
渴 (kě) means 'thirsty' or 'parched.' It can also imply a yearning or pining for something, often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
To use 渴 in a sentence, you can say, '我渴了' (Wǒ kě le), which means 'I am thirsty.' You can also use it in expressions of longing, like '我渴望' (Wǒ kěwàng), meaning 'I yearn for.'
You can say '我很渴' (wǒ hěn kě), which means 'I am very thirsty.'
Yes, it can also mean to yearn or pine for something, such as in the phrase '渴望知识' (kěwàng zhīshì) meaning 'to yearn for knowledge.'
Both mean 'thirsty,' but 口渴 (kǒu kě) specifically emphasizes the mouth feeling thirsty.
