KanjiJLPT N1
Thirst

thirst, dry up, parch

Mnemonic

A brutal storm has raged for hours, but now the sun returns and bakes the cracked earth. You catch the fragrance of a distant oasis carried on the wind—flowers blooming near fresh water. That teasing scent of life just out of reach makes your thirst absolutely unbearable.
Additional thoughts
Picture the storm drying everything out, the sun intensifying the heat, and the fragrance of water-fed blossoms tormenting you—three layers building toward desperate thirst.
Quick recall
A storm under the sun carries the fragrance of a distant oasis, fueling agonizing thirst.

Details

The keyword for 渇 is thirst. This kanji refers to the sensation of dryness and craving for water, the physical state of needing liquid. It can also be used more broadly to express a deep longing or yearning for something, much like an emotional or spiritual dryness that demands fulfillment. The character conveys the urgent, almost desperate quality of being parched and in need of relief.
On'yomi
かつ
Kun'yomi
かわ.く