浩劫 hàojié calamity
calamity; catastrophe; apocalypse
How to remember 浩劫: 浩 great + 劫 to take by force = calamity.
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How it is used
- Means a catastrophe/calamity of massive scale - 一场浩劫 (yì chǎng hàojié) a great catastrophe.
- Reserved for huge disasters affecting many - wars, natural disasters, historical tragedies.
- Stronger and more literary than 灾难 (zāinàn, disaster); 浩劫 implies apocalyptic devastation.