灾难

• Pinyin: zāi nàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 灾 = disaster; 难 = difficult/hardship

Meaning

Catastrophe; disaster; calamity. A very serious disaster causing great suffering.

Emphasizes the suffering and tragic nature of disasters. Can be natural or man-made. Used both literally and figuratively: 生态灾难 (ecological disaster), 人道主义灾难 (humanitarian disaster). 灾难性的 (catastrophic) is the adjective form.

Examples

1. 战争给人民带来了深重的灾难。 War brought profound disaster to the people.
2. 这次地震是当地百年来最大的灾难。 This earthquake was the largest catastrophe in the local area in a century.
3. 环境污染可能导致生态灾难。 Environmental pollution may lead to ecological disaster.

Usage Guide

Context: news, history, tragedy

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这是一场巨大的灾难。(This is a huge catastrophe.)
• 灾难面前，人们互相帮助。(In the face of disaster, people help each other.)

Don't Say

• 我的考试是灾难 (Too dramatic for everyday setbacks — use 糟糕 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 灾 (disaster) and 难 (hardship, difficulty). Disaster bringing hardship.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal