HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 日, rank #37499, Very Hard
旱
hàn
dry; drought; desert
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 日, rank #37499, Very Hard
hàn(han4) T4
1drought
2dry; drought; desert
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March 24, 2026
旱hàn(han4)
The character 旱 (hàn) refers to a state of dryness, particularly in the context of drought or arid conditions. It can be used to describe environments that are dry or to refer to a lack of rainfall, significantly affecting agriculture and water supply.
Strokes7Radical日Frequency#37499DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Drought is a significant concern in many parts of China, particularly in the north where water scarcity can impact food production and livelihoods. The concept of 旱 is often associated with historical events, such as famines caused by prolonged dry spells.
Memory Tip
Imagine the sun (the radical 日) shining down on a barren land, creating a desert. The character 旱 has the sun above and the ground below, symbolizing how the heat causes the earth to dry out, leading to drought.
Meanings of 旱
hàn(han4)
1drought
2dry; drought; desert
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 旱
旱Simplified
7Strokes
日Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#37499Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 旱
Podcast: 旱
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AI Study Notes for 旱
Quick Contrast
干 (gān) - use 旱 (hàn) specifically for drought conditions, while 干 (gān) can refer to general dryness or being dry.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 旱 (hàn) with similar-sounding words like 汉 (hàn), which means Han (the ethnic group). This term is often used in more formal contexts, such as discussing climate or agriculture, and is commonly found in phrases like 旱灾 (hànzāi), meaning 'drought disaster'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 旱 is not part of the official HSK levels, understanding this character is beneficial for learners interested in environmental vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing its usage with related terms like 干 (gān), meaning 'dry', to enhance their vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 旱 (hàn) with related characters, leading to errors like saying 干旱 (gān hàn) instead of 旱 (hàn) alone, which can dilute the meaning. Remember, 干旱 is a compound word meaning 'drought' but using 旱 alone is also correct depending on context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 旱
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Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 干 represents the sound.
1The giveawayThe sun 日 baking a desert 干; 干 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 旱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 旱?
Decomposition of 旱
IDS Structure⿱日干
旱Full Character
=
日Ri4
top
干gan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 旱?
How to say drought in Chinese
“drought” in Chinese is旱hàn
The character 旱 (hàn) refers to a state of dryness, particularly in the context of drought or arid conditions. It can be used to describe environments that are dry or to refer to a lack of rainfall, significantly affecting agriculture and water supply.
When to use 旱
Be careful not to confuse 旱 (hàn) with similar-sounding words like 汉 (hàn), which means Han (the ethnic group). This term is often used in more formal contexts, such as discussing climate or agriculture, and is commonly found in phrases like 旱灾 (hànzāi), meaning 'drought disaster'.
旱 or something close to it
干 (gān) - use 旱 (hàn) specifically for drought conditions, while 干 (gān) can refer to general dryness or being dry.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 旱 (hàn) with related characters, leading to errors like saying 干旱 (gān hàn) instead of 旱 (hàn) alone, which can dilute the meaning. Remember, 干旱 is a compound word meaning 'drought' but using 旱 alone is also correct depending on context.
Write 旱
旱
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Practice writing 旱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 旱
旱 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
那年由于干____,几百头羊突然死去.
Hundreds of sheep perished that year because of drought.
Example Sentences for 旱 (9)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
那年由于干旱,几百头羊突然死去.
nà nián yóu yú gān hàn, , jī bǎi tóu yáng tū rán sǐ.
Hundreds of sheep perished that year because of drought.
