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枯燥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
枯燥
kūzào
dry and dull
HSK 6, a, 26 strokes, rank #10965, Hard
枯燥
kūzào
uninteresting
HSK 6, a, 26 strokes, rank #10965, Hard
枯燥
kūzào
dry-as-dust
HSK 6, a, 26 strokes, rank #10965, Hard
kūzào(ku1zao4)ku zao T1
1dry and dull
2uninteresting
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March 24, 2026
枯燥kūzào(ku1zao4)
The term 枯燥 (kū zào) describes something that is dry, dull, and uninteresting, often used to refer to subjects, activities, or environments that lack stimulation or excitement. It is commonly used in academic or professional contexts to express boredom or a lack of engagement with material or tasks.
Strokes26Frequency#10965DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese education, subjects that are considered 枯燥 may include rote memorization or overly theoretical lessons, which often lead to students feeling disengaged. This reflects a broader concern in Chinese culture about the effectiveness of traditional teaching methods.
Memory tip
Imagine a desert landscape, parched and devoid of life, to visualize '枯' (kū), meaning dry. Combine this with '燥' (zào), which sounds like 'sow', as in sowing seeds in barren land—nothing grows here, making it dull and lifeless.
Meanings of 枯燥
kūzào(ku1zao4)
1dry and dull
2uninteresting
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 枯燥
枯燥Simplified
26Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10965Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 枯燥
Podcast: 枯燥
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AI Study Notes for 枯燥
Quick Contrast
单调 (dān diào) - use 枯燥 when emphasizing lack of interest or stimulation, while 单调 focuses more on monotony or uniformity.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 枯燥 with similar sounding words that express different degrees of dullness or boredom, like 无趣 (wú qù), which means uninteresting. It is more formal and typically used in written contexts or serious conversations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, it connects with concepts related to feelings and descriptions. Focus on using it in sentences that describe experiences or feelings towards topics, like studying or work-related tasks, to enhance vocabulary and context understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 枯燥 to describe mildly boring situations, while it's best reserved for contexts that are significantly unengaging. For example, saying '这部电影有点枯燥' (This movie is a bit dry) may sound too harsh; instead, '这部电影有点无趣' (This movie is a bit uninteresting) is more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 枯燥
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The term 枯燥 (kū zào) describes something that is dry, dull, and uninteresting, often used to refer to subjects, activities, or environments that lack stimulation or excitement. It is commonly used in academic or professional contexts to express boredom or a lack of engagement with material or tasks.
When to use 枯燥
Be careful not to confuse 枯燥 with similar sounding words that express different degrees of dullness or boredom, like 无趣 (wú qù), which means uninteresting. It is more formal and typically used in written contexts or serious conversations.
枯燥 or something close to it
单调 (dān diào) - use 枯燥 when emphasizing lack of interest or stimulation, while 单调 focuses more on monotony or uniformity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 枯燥 to describe mildly boring situations, while it's best reserved for contexts that are significantly unengaging. For example, saying '这部电影有点枯燥' (This movie is a bit dry) may sound too harsh; instead, '这部电影有点无趣' (This movie is a bit uninteresting) is more appropriate.
Write 枯燥
枯
燥
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Grammar Patterns of 枯燥
枯燥 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们时常陷入____的日常事务之中。
All too often they become enmeshed in deadening routines.
Example Sentences for 枯燥 (15)
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1
他们时常陷入枯燥的日常事务之中。
tāmen shícháng xiànrù kūzào de rìcháng shìwù zhīzhōng。
All too often they become enmeshed in deadening routines.
2
他写了一组非常单调枯燥的曲子。
tā xiě le yī zǔ fēicháng dāndiào kūzào de qǔzi。
He has written a batch of very samey tunes.
3
上班时，他淹没在枯燥乏味的会海中。
shàngbān shí， tā yānmò zài kūzào fá wèi de huì hǎi zhōng。
At work, he was chained to a system of boring meetings.
4
原本显得沉闷枯燥的诗歌突然有了生气。
yuánběn xiǎnde chénmèn kūzào de shīgē tūrán yǒu le shēngqì。
Poems which had seemed dull and boring suddenly came to life.
5
那是一份按部就班、枯燥乏味的无聊差事。
nà shì yī fèn àn bù jiù bān、 kūzào fá wèi de wúliáo chà shì。
It was a methodical, unexciting chore.
6
那是一堆枯燥乏味、毫无幽默感的废话。
nà shì yī duī kūzào fá wèi、 háowú yōumò gǎn de fèihuà。
