Meanings of 災
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About 災
Podcast: 災
Podcast: 災
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AI Study Notes for 災
灾难 (zāinàn) vs 灾害 (zāihài) — choose 災 (zāi) when emphasizing the general concept of disaster rather than the specific types or consequences.
Be careful not to confuse 災 (zāi) with 催 (cuī), which means to urge or hasten, as the meanings are quite different. This character is often used in formal contexts, particularly in disaster reports or news. Common collocations include 災難 (zāinàn), meaning calamity, and 災害 (zāihài), meaning disaster or hazard.
Although 災 is not part of any HSK levels, it is a useful word for learners interested in advanced vocabulary related to emergencies or environmental issues. Students should focus on recognizing it in compound words and phrases that discuss disasters.
Learners often confuse 災 (zāi) with 知 (zhī), which means to know, leading to sentences like '我知道灾' (I know disaster), which is nonsensical. The correct usage should focus on discussing the nature of the disaster itself, such as '我经历过一场灾' (I have experienced a disaster).
Pronunciation of 災
Drill the tone of 災 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 災
Depicts a fire (火) burning a building (宀).
A river 巛 on fire 火
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 災
Depicts a fire (火) burning a building (宀).
- 1The giveawayA river 巛 on fire 火
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 災? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 災?
Decomposition of 災
Identify the Components
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How to say disaster, catastrophe, calamity in Chinese
“disaster, catastrophe, calamity” in Chinese is災
The character 災 (zāi) refers to a disaster or calamity, often implying a significant and unfortunate event that causes destruction or suffering. It is commonly used in contexts related to natural disasters, accidents, or crises, emphasizing their severity and impact on life.
When to use 災
Be careful not to confuse 災 (zāi) with 催 (cuī), which means to urge or hasten, as the meanings are quite different. This character is often used in formal contexts, particularly in disaster reports or news. Common collocations include 災難 (zāinàn), meaning calamity, and 災害 (zāihài), meaning disaster or hazard.
災 or something close to it
灾难 (zāinàn) vs 灾害 (zāihài) — choose 災 (zāi) when emphasizing the general concept of disaster rather than the specific types or consequences.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 災 (zāi) with 知 (zhī), which means to know, leading to sentences like '我知道灾' (I know disaster), which is nonsensical. The correct usage should focus on discussing the nature of the disaster itself, such as '我经历过一场灾' (I have experienced a disaster).
Write 災
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Practice writing 災 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 災
Compound Meaning
What does 灾难 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 災
You can say '这场洪水是一次严重的灾害' (This flood is a serious disaster).
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