Meaning and Usage
"枯れる" primarily means "to wither" or "to dry up," especially referring to plants losing their vitality and dying. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when talking about flowers, trees, or other plants that have dried out or died due to lack of water, heat, or other conditions.
Extended Usage
Besides plants, "枯れる" can also describe a person's voice becoming hoarse or dry, often due to illness or strain. This figurative use is common and important to recognize.
Common Collocations and Patterns
- "花が枯れる" (flowers wither): used when flowers lose freshness.
- "木が枯れる" (tree dies): used for larger plants or trees drying out.
- "声が枯れる" (voice becomes hoarse): figurative use for voice.
- "〜てしまう" after "枯れる" expresses regret or completion, e.g., "枯れてしまった" means the plant has completely withered.
Register and Nuance
"枯れる" is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It is a natural verb to describe plants dying and is often used in daily life.
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse "枯れる" with "枯らす" (からす), which means "to cause to wither" or "to let something dry out." "枯れる" is intransitive (the plant withers by itself), while "枯らす" is transitive (someone causes the plant to wither).