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HSK 3

渴

thirsty

adjectiveneutral
渴
kě3rd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
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5
6
Pinyin
kě
Part of speech
adjective
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
12
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 渴

渴 is written with 12 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 渴 mean?

渴 (kě) is the adjective for 'thirsty,' describing the physical sensation of needing to drink.

Like 饿 (è, hungry), it's a state adjective — use it with 很 (hěn, very) or another degree word: 我很渴 (I'm thirsty), 我有点儿渴 (I'm a little thirsty). You don't say 我渴 by itself in most contexts; Chinese state-adjectives need a degree word in affirmative sentences. The 氵 (water) radical hints at the meaning — being thirsty is wanting water.

There's also a metaphorical use in compounds: 渴望 (kěwàng) = to long for / yearn for, and 求知欲渴 (qiúzhī yù kě) = thirsty for knowledge. Don't confuse 渴 with the high-frequency 可 (kě, 'can / may / -able') — same pronunciation but completely different meaning and use.

Note: Neutral and used in everyday speech. The intensified form 口渴 (kǒu kě, 'mouth thirsty') is also very common and slightly more explicit.

Example sentences

我很渴，想喝水。

Wǒ hěn kě, xiǎng hē shuǐ.

I'm thirsty, I want to drink water.

spoken

你渴不渴？

Nǐ kě bu kě?

Are you thirsty?

spoken

天气太热，我渴死了。

Tiānqì tài rè, wǒ kě sǐ le.

The weather is too hot, I'm dying of thirst.

spoken

我不渴，谢谢。

Wǒ bù kě, xièxie.

I'm not thirsty, thanks.

spoken

跑完步以后我又累又渴。

Pǎo wán bù yǐhòu wǒ yòu lèi yòu kě.

After running I was both tired and thirsty.

neutral

Common phrases with 渴

口渴kǒu kěto be thirsty (lit. 'mouth thirsty')
很渴hěn kěvery thirsty
渴死了kě sǐ ledying of thirst (very thirsty)
不渴bù kěnot thirsty
渴望kěwàngto long for; yearn for

Don't confuse 渴 with

可kě

可 means 'can / may / -able' (可以 = can, 可爱 = cute, 可能 = possible). Same pronunciation as 渴 but completely different — 可 is a function word, 渴 is the state of being thirsty.

喝hē

喝 means 'to drink.' Visually similar to 渴 (both have 口 mouth radical on the left in 喝 and 氵 water in 渴), and meanings are linked: 渴了就喝水 = if you're thirsty, drink water. Different pronunciations.

饿è

饿 means 'hungry.' Same pattern as 渴 — a state adjective for a body need. 我又饿又渴 = I'm both hungry and thirsty.

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