渇水

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 渇水 is read as かっすい and is a noun for a shortage of usable water caused by insufficient rainfall or supply.
• Basic usage: A prolonged shortage appears in 長い渇水, while its agricultural effect appears in 渇水が農業に与える影響.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Shortage of available water
  • It describes insufficient water for a region, reservoir, or supply system, not a person feeling thirsty.
• Difference from 干ばつ
  • Compared with a climatic drought, this term focuses on the resulting shortage of water available for use.