Meaning and Usage
The verb 乾かす (かわかす) means "to dry" something by removing moisture, usually by air or heat. It is a transitive verb, so it always takes a direct object — something that is being dried.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 乾かす used with clothes (洗濯物を乾かす), hair (髪を乾かす), or other items that get wet and need drying. It is common in daily life when talking about laundry or personal grooming.
Collocations and Patterns
- 洗濯物を乾かす: to dry laundry
- 髪を乾かす: to dry hair
- 靴を乾かす: to dry shoes
These phrases show typical objects that are dried using 乾かす.
Register and Nuance
乾かす is neutral and commonly used in everyday conversation. It is neither formal nor casual but fits well in daily speech.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 乾かす (to dry something) with 乾く (かわく), which is intransitive and means "to become dry." Remember 乾かす requires a direct object, while 乾く does not.