96
枯
Wither, Dry Up
か.れる, か.らす
JLPT N2
Interesting Fact
In Japanese gardens, gardeners carefully remove 枯れ葉 (kareba), or withered leaves, to keep the landscape beautiful. The contrast between fresh green leaves and dried ones is an important part of seasonal appreciation.
Memory Trick
Imagine a tree (木) standing through a long drought until every leaf dries up and falls. That withered tree helps you remember 枯 means 'to wither' or 'to dry up.'
Readings
Onyomi: コ (ko)
Kunyomi: か.れる, か.らす
Example Words
枯れる
かれる (kareru)
To wither
枯らす
からす (karasu)
To let wither
枯葉
かれは (kareha)
Dead leaves
枯木
かれき (kareki)
Dead tree
Example Sentence
庭 の 花 が 枯れてしまいました。
にわ の はな が かれてしまいました。
niwa no hana ga karete shimaimashita
The flowers in the garden have withered.