gon1 kok3乾涸干涸
Jyutpinggon1 kok3
Yalegōn kok
Definition
Dried up or parched; completely devoid of moisture.
neutralnaturedescriptions
How it's used
Describes a state of extreme dehydration or lack of moisture, often implying a permanent or severe loss of water. While it can apply to physical objects like soil or riverbeds, it is also frequently used metaphorically to describe a lack of inspiration or resources. It carries a more literary or formal weight compared to simple colloquial descriptions of dryness.
Examples
The river has dried up completely, and all the fish are dead.
The soil here is so dried up that it has cracked; it hasn't rained for a long time.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe things that are just slightly dry, like skin or clothes, as it implies a total absence of water. For everyday dryness, use 乾 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
