地震

• Reading: じしん
• Romaji: jishin
• Kanji breakdown: 地 (ji/chi) — earth, ground; 震 (shin) — shake, tremble
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.ɕiŋ/

Meaning

Earthquake. A common natural phenomenon in Japan due to its location on tectonic plate boundaries.

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. Earthquakes are measured on the shindo (震度) scale unique to Japan. Common collocations include 地震が起きる (an earthquake occurs) and 地震速報 (earthquake early warning).

Examples

1. 昨日の夜、大きな地震がありました。 There was a big earthquake last night.
2. 地震が起きたら、まず机の下に隠れてください。 If an earthquake happens, first hide under a desk.
3. この建物は地震に強い設計です。 This building is designed to withstand earthquakes.

Usage Guide

Context: disaster, news, safety

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 地 (earth, ground) and 震 (to shake, tremble). The characters literally describe the ground shaking.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal