humanitarian
Meaning: Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare, particularly in the context of alleviating suffering caused by conflict, disaster, or poverty.
Humanitarian functions both as an adjective and a noun, describing either the ethos of compassionate intervention or a person dedicated to such work. It is central to the vocabulary of international relations, development aid, and crisis response. The term carries an implicit urgency absent from the broader word 'philanthropic,' often collocating with 'crisis,' 'aid,' 'corridor,' and 'intervention.'
Examples
- The United Nations launched a humanitarian appeal for the flood-stricken region. 联合国为遭受洪灾的地区发起了人道主义援助呼吁。Las Naciones Unidas lanzaron un llamamiento humanitario para la región devastada por las inundaciones.国連は洪水被災地域に対する人道的支援を呼びかけた。유엔은 홍수 피해 지역에 대한 인도적 지원을 호소했다.
- She devoted three decades to humanitarian work across sub-Saharan Africa. 她用三十年的时间投身于撒哈拉以南非洲的人道主义工作。Dedicó tres décadas al trabajo humanitario en el África subsahariana.彼女はサハラ以南アフリカでの人道支援活動に30年を捧げた。그녀는 사하라 이남 아프리카에서의 인도주의적 활동에 30년을 헌신했다.
- The government faced mounting pressure to open a humanitarian corridor for displaced civilians. 政府面临着为流离失所的平民开辟人道主义走廊的日益增大的压力。El gobierno se enfrentó a una presión creciente para abrir un corredor humanitario destinado a los civiles desplazados.政府は避難民のための人道回廊を開設するよう、ますます高まる圧力に直面した。정부는 실향민을 위한 인도적 통로를 개설하라는 점점 높아지는 압력에 직면했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional, journalism
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin humanitas (human nature, kindness) via French humanitaire. First recorded in English in the early 19th century, initially as a theological term before acquiring its modern secular meaning.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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