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旱灾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
旱灾hànzāidroughtHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #40394, Hard
hànzāi(han4zai1)han zai T4
  1. 1drought
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March 24, 2026

旱灾(旱災)hànzāi(han4zai1)

旱灾 (hànzāi) refers to a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, causing water shortages and impacting agriculture and ecosystems. It is commonly used in discussions about climate change, agriculture, and natural disasters, especially in regions prone to dry weather.

Strokes14Frequency#40394DifficultyHard
Cultural note

旱灾 holds significant importance in Chinese culture, especially in agricultural societies where rice and wheat crops depend on consistent rainfall. It is often linked to historical famines and remains a critical concern for food security in modern China.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'hand' (hàn) reaching out to the sky, pleading for rain during a 'zai' (zāi) drought. The character 旱 has a sun symbol 𠂉 that represents heat, while 灾 includes the fire radical, signifying disaster caused by the lack of water.

Meanings of 旱灾

hànzāi(han4zai1)
1drought
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About 旱灾

旱灾Simplified
旱災Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 旱灾

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AI study notes for 旱灾

Quick Contrast

干旱 (gānhàn) refers specifically to drought conditions, while 旱灾 (hànzāi) emphasizes the disaster aspect and consequences of such conditions.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation; the tones are crucial (hàn for 'drought', zāi for 'disaster'). This term is often used in formal contexts, such as news reports or scientific discussions, and is frequently paired with words like '严重' (yánzhòng, severe) or '影响' (yǐngxiǎng, impact).

HSK Study Tips

While 旱灾 is not an official HSK word, its components can be helpful in learning related vocabulary about weather and natural disasters. Focus on the radicals to better understand similar terms in the HSK curriculum, such as 水 (water) and 火 (fire).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 旱灾 with 洪灾 (hóngzāi, flood disaster) due to similar tones. Remember that 旱 (hàn) is associated with dryness, while 洪 (hóng) refers to water overflow.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 旱灾

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Component characters

旱hàndrought
HSK 77 strokes日
View full entry
灾zāidisaster
HSK 67 strokes火
View full entry

How to say drought in Chinese

“drought” in Chinese is旱灾hànzāi

旱灾 (hànzāi) refers to a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, causing water shortages and impacting agriculture and ecosystems. It is commonly used in discussions about climate change, agriculture, and natural disasters, especially in regions prone to dry weather.

When to use 旱灾

Be cautious with the pronunciation; the tones are crucial (hàn for 'drought', zāi for 'disaster'). This term is often used in formal contexts, such as news reports or scientific discussions, and is frequently paired with words like '严重' (yánzhòng, severe) or '影响' (yǐngxiǎng, impact).

旱灾 or something close to it

干旱 (gānhàn) refers specifically to drought conditions, while 旱灾 (hànzāi) emphasizes the disaster aspect and consequences of such conditions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 旱灾 with 洪灾 (hóngzāi, flood disaster) due to similar tones. Remember that 旱 (hàn) is associated with dryness, while 洪 (hóng) refers to water overflow.

Write 旱灾

旱
灾

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Frequently asked questions about 旱灾

You can say, '今年的旱灾影响了农作物的生长' (This year's drought affected the growth of crops).

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