灾害

• Pinyin: zāi hài
• Hanzi breakdown: 灾 = disaster; 害 = 宀 + 丰 + 口, harm/damage

Meaning

Disaster; catastrophe; calamity. Events causing serious damage to life, property, or environment.

More formal than just 灾. Often used in official contexts. Types: 自然灾害 (natural disaster), 地质灾害 (geological disaster), 气象灾害 (meteorological disaster). Related terms: 灾害预警 (disaster warning), 灾害防治 (disaster prevention).

Examples

1. 地震、洪水和台风都是常见的自然灾害。 Earthquakes, floods, and typhoons are all common natural disasters.
2. 政府建立了完善的灾害预警系统。 The government has established a comprehensive disaster early warning system.
3. 这次灾害造成了重大的经济损失。 This disaster caused significant economic losses.

Usage Guide

Context: news, government, science

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 我们要加强灾害防治工作。(We need to strengthen disaster prevention work.)
• 灾害发生后，救援队立即出动。(After the disaster occurred, rescue teams were immediately deployed.)

Don't Say

• 小灾害 (Sounds contradictory — 灾害 implies serious harm; for minor problems, use other words)

Origin & History

Compound of 灾 (disaster) and 害 (harm, damage). Harmful disaster events.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal