灾难 zāinàn disaster
disaster; catastrophe
How to remember 灾难: 灾 disaster + 难 difficult = disaster.
Characters
How it is used
- A disaster/catastrophe (with its human suffering) - 一场灾难 (yì chǎng zāinàn) a catastrophe, 灾难片 (zāinànpiàn) disaster film.
- Emphasizes the calamitous suffering and tragedy; 灾 (disaster) + 难 (suffering).
- Contrast 灾害 (zāihài, the harmful disaster event/type); 灾难 conveys the deeper catastrophe and its toll.
Example sentences
- 这场灾难的唯一幸存者是一个婴儿。 Zhèchǎng zāinàn de wéiyī xìngcúnzhě shì yígè yīngér.The accident's only survivor was a baby.
- 听起来好像他是这场灾难的罪魁祸首。 Tīng qǐlái hǎoxiàng tā shì zhèchǎng zāinàn de zuìkuíhuòshǒu.It sounds as if he were to blame for the disaster.