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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.
Frequency#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
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About 枯燥
枯燥Simplified
—Strokes
—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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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 (10)
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1
他们时常陷入枯燥的日常事务之中。
tā mén shí cháng xiàn rù kū zào de rì cháng shì wù zhī zhōng。
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 fēi cháng dān tiáo kū zào de qū zǐ。
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。
shàng bān shí， ， tā yān méi zài kū zào fá wèi de huì hǎi。
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。
yuán běn xiǎn dé chén mèn kū zào de shī gē tū rán yǒu le shēng qì。
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、 、 kū zào fá wèi de wú liáo chà。
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 kū zào fá wèi、 、 háo wú yōu mò gǎn de fèi。
It is a tedious, humourless load of crap.
7
斯托克斯先生可以预见下一周会被枯燥繁重的宣传工作搞得焦头烂额。
sī tuō kè sī xiān shēng kě yǐ yù jiàn xià yī zhōu huì bèi kū zào fán zhòng de xuān chuán gōng zuò gǎo dé jiāo tóu làn é。
Mr Stocks can expect a gruelling week on the publicity treadmill.
8
这本枯燥乏味的书幸亏加了一些精彩的插图才变得生动有趣.
zhè běn kū zào fá wèi de shū xìng kuī jiā le yī xiē jīng cǎi de chā tú cái biàn dé shēng dòng yǒu qù.
The otherwise dreary book is enlivened by some very amusing illustrations.
9
春月有热情,有才智,生活再枯燥,她也能适应.
chūn yuè yǒu rè qíng, , yǒu cái, zhì , shēng huó zài, kū zào , tā yě.
And Spring Moon had the zest and wit to season the most prosaic of lives.
10
这样枯燥的生活能不培育出一批穷忙族 吗 ?
zhè yàng kū zào de shēng huó néng bù péi yù chū yī pī qióng máng zú?
How could such an boring job train an non - working - poor?
Cultural Notes for 枯燥
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about 枯燥
You can say: '这门课太枯燥了' (This course is too dry and dull).
No, it can describe any activity or situation that feels uninteresting or monotonous, such as a job or a piece of writing.
The opposite would be 有趣 (yǒu qù), meaning interesting.
