灾 zāi disaster
disaster; catastrophe; calamity
How to remember 灾: 宀 house + 火 fire = disaster. When the house next door catches fire at midnight, the whole street wakes up to the disaster.
Component breakdown
灾 = 宀 house + 火 fire
- 宀 house
- 火 fire
When the house next door catches fire at midnight, the whole street wakes up to the disaster.
How it is used
- Disaster/calamity - 灾难 (zāinàn) a disaster, 灾害 (zāihài) calamity (natural disasters), 天灾 natural disaster.
- Specific disasters: 火灾 (huǒzāi) a fire, 水灾 flood, 旱灾 (hànzāi) drought.
- 灾区 (zāiqū) = disaster-stricken area; 救灾 (jiùzāi) disaster relief; 受灾 (shòuzāi) to be hit by disaster.
- 灾 stresses a calamitous event; 难 (nàn) is hardship/suffering - combined in 灾难.