渴

A phono-semantic compound consists of:

水 (water) — semantic component, indicates relation to liquid or moisture;

曷 — phonetic element, supplies pronunciation "gal / hé / katsu."

Thus the original meaning suggests "lack of water → thirst."

Semantic development:

- physical thirst;

- drying due to heat or drought;

- strong desire or longing (metaphorical thirst).

The semantic progression follows:

absence of water → bodily thirst → intense craving.

갈증 (渴症) — thirst

구갈 (口渴) — dryness of mouth

해갈 (解渴) — quench thirst

渴 specifically emphasizes:

- dryness due to lack of water;

- physiological thirst;

- intense longing.

The metaphorical use (e.g., 渴望) reflects emotional or psychological thirst.

Related characters:

飲 — to drink

乾 — dry

旱 — drought

望 — to hope; to long

飢 — hunger

Among these, 渴 uniquely conveys urgent need for water → metaphorical craving.

Classical usage:

大旱而民渴 — “In great drought, the people thirst.”

如渴求水 — “Like thirsting for water.”