救援

• Reading: きゅうえん
• Romaji: kyuuen
• Kanji breakdown: 救 (kyū) — rescue, save; 援 (en) — assist, support
• Pronunciation: /kjɯː.eɴ/

Meaning

Relief; rescue. Providing assistance to those in distress or danger.

A suru-verb used in contexts of emergency assistance, disaster relief, and military rescue operations. Often appears in compounds like 救援物資 (relief supplies) and 救援活動 (relief efforts). More formal than 助ける and implies organised, large-scale assistance.

Examples

1. 被災地に救援物資が届けられた。 Relief supplies were delivered to the disaster-stricken area.
2. 救援チームが現場に急行した。 A rescue team rushed to the scene.
3. 国際的な救援活動が始まった。 International relief efforts have begun.

Usage Guide

Context: disaster relief, military, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 救 (rescue, save) + 援 (assist, support). Both characters relate to helping, with 救 emphasising saving from danger and 援 emphasising providing support.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal