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March 24, 2026
灾(災)zāi(zai1)
The character 灾 (zāi) refers to a disaster or calamity, often denoting significant misfortune or loss. It is commonly used in contexts related to natural disasters, accidents, and severe adverse events that affect large groups or areas.
Strokes7Radical火Frequency#10196DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, have historically shaped communities and influenced literature and art. The word 灾 is often seen in discussions about disaster preparedness and government responses.
Memory Tip
Imagine a scene where a giant 'zai' (sounds like 'zāi') is raining down fire and destruction, illustrating the concept of disaster. The character 灾 consists of the radical 火 (fire) at the bottom, suggesting destruction, combined with the top part representing a variant of the character for calamity.
Meanings of 灾
zāi(zai1)
1disaster
2calamity
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 灾
灾Simplified
災Traditional
7Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#10196Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 灾
Podcast: 灾
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AI Study Notes for 灾
Quick Contrast
灾 (disaster) vs 祸 (misfortune) — choose 灾 when referring specifically to disasters, especially natural ones, while 祸 is more general and can refer to any kind of misfortune.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 灾 (zāi) with its synonym 災 (zāi), which is an older variant. This word is typically used in a serious context, so it is more formal than casual alternatives like 'trouble' or 'problem.' It's often paired with words like 自然 (zìrán, nature) to describe natural disasters.
HSK Study Tips
Though not currently included in HSK levels, understanding 灾 can aid in grasping vocabulary related to emergencies, such as 救灾 (jiùzāi, disaster relief) and 灾难 (zāinàn, disaster). Focus on pronunciation and context to differentiate it from similar terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 灾 as 'zai' without the proper tone. Remember to pronounce it as 'zāi' to convey the correct meaning. Additionally, confusing it with similar characters like 障 (zhàng, obstacle) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 灾
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How Well Do You Know 灾?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 灾 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 灾 (zāi) refers to a disaster or calamity, often denoting significant misfortune or loss. It is commonly used in contexts related to natural disasters, accidents, and severe adverse events that affect large groups or areas.
When to use 灾
Be careful not to confuse 灾 (zāi) with its synonym 災 (zāi), which is an older variant. This word is typically used in a serious context, so it is more formal than casual alternatives like 'trouble' or 'problem.' It's often paired with words like 自然 (zìrán, nature) to describe natural disasters.
灾 or something close to it
灾 (disaster) vs 祸 (misfortune) — choose 灾 when referring specifically to disasters, especially natural ones, while 祸 is more general and can refer to any kind of misfortune.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 灾 as 'zai' without the proper tone. Remember to pronounce it as 'zāi' to convey the correct meaning. Additionally, confusing it with similar characters like 障 (zhàng, obstacle) can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 灾
灾
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Grammar Patterns of 灾
灾 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我看见人们出洋相并不幸____乐祸。
I find no pleasure in seeing people make asses of themselves.
