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日本語
災害 — meaning in English: Disaster
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disaster
湖
mizuumi
ディーラー
dīrā
沈黙
chinmoku
災害
財団
zaidan
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neutral
common
Usage
Native speakers often use the word 災害 when discussing natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, or typhoons, especially in news reports or community meetings. For instance, after a severe earthquake, you might hear it in conversations about recovery efforts or government responses to the disaster.
Synonyms & nuances
災害 is often compared to the word 事故 (jiko), which means 'accident.' While 災害 refers specifically to larger-scale natural or man-made disasters, 事故 typically indicates personal or vehicular accidents. Use 災害 when referring to widespread events that impact communities, whereas 事故 is more personal and localized.
Culture
The word 災害 is composed of two kanji: 災 (sai), meaning 'calamity,' and 害 (gai), meaning 'harm' or 'injury.' Japan's geographical location makes it particularly susceptible to various disasters, leading to a rich vocabulary surrounding the topic. Interestingly, the Japanese have a culture of preparedness, and many schools conduct regular drills to educate children about disaster safety.
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