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灾难 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
灾难
zāinàn
disaster
HSK 6, n, 17 strokes, rank #2798, Hard
灾难
zāinàn
catastrophe
HSK 6, n, 17 strokes, rank #2798, Hard
zāinàn(zai1nan4)zai nan T1
1disaster
2catastrophe
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March 24, 2026
灾难(災難)zāinàn(zai1nan4)
灾难 (zāi nàn) refers to a significant and often sudden event that causes great damage, destruction, or suffering. It is commonly used in contexts related to natural disasters, accidents, or catastrophic events that impact communities or individuals.
Strokes17Frequency#2798DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 灾难 is often discussed in relation to historical events, such as earthquakes or floods, that have shaped communities and led to significant changes in policies regarding disaster response and prevention.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'zai' (like a 'sigh') of relief when disaster is averted, and 'nan' sounds like 'none' as in 'none left standing' after a calamity. Visualize a scene where a large storm cloud looms, threatening to unleash disaster, reminding you of the duality of the characters: 灾 (disaster) and 难 (difficulty).
Meanings of 灾难
zāinàn(zai1nan4)
1disaster
2catastrophe
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 灾难
灾难Simplified
災難Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2798Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 灾难
Podcast: 灾难
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AI study notes for 灾难
Quick Contrast
灾害 (zāihài) refers to a broader category of harmful events, while 灾难 (zāinàn) emphasizes the severity and impact of such events.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 灾难 with other disaster-related terms like 事故 (accident) or 灾害 (disaster event). This word is neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in news reports or discussions about climate-related issues.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 灾难 connects well with other vocabulary related to safety, emergency response, and environmental issues. Focus on using it in sentences that describe specific disasters or in discussions about preparedness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 灾难 in contexts that require a less severe term, such as using it interchangeably with 事件 (event). For example, saying '这只是一个小灾难' (This is just a small disaster) can be misleading; instead, use '事件' for less serious occurrences.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 灾难
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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.
灾难 (zāi nàn) refers to a significant and often sudden event that causes great damage, destruction, or suffering. It is commonly used in contexts related to natural disasters, accidents, or catastrophic events that impact communities or individuals.
When to use 灾难
Common mistakes include confusing 灾难 with other disaster-related terms like 事故 (accident) or 灾害 (disaster event). This word is neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in news reports or discussions about climate-related issues.
灾难 or something close to it
灾害 (zāihài) refers to a broader category of harmful events, while 灾难 (zāinàn) emphasizes the severity and impact of such events.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 灾难 in contexts that require a less severe term, such as using it interchangeably with 事件 (event). For example, saying '这只是一个小灾难' (This is just a small disaster) can be misleading; instead, use '事件' for less serious occurrences.
Write 灾难
灾
难
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Grammar patterns of 灾难
灾难 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 2 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.
调查已经展开，以查明____是如何发生的。
An investigation is underway to find out how the disaster happened.
