災難(さいなん)

災難(さいなん) refers to an unfortunate event or misfortune that befalls someone, often suddenly and beyond their control. It can range from minor mishaps to major catastrophes.

Common collocations

• 災難(さいなん)に遭(あ)う: to encounter misfortune
• 災難(さいなん)を逃(のが)れる: to escape disaster
• 思(おも)わぬ災難(さいなん): unexpected misfortune
• 災難(さいなん)が降(ふ)りかかる: misfortune befalls (someone)
• 災難(さいなん)が続(つづ)く: misfortunes continue

Similar words

• 災害(さいがい): disaster (typically natural disasters — earthquakes, typhoons, floods)
• 不幸(ふこう): misfortune, unhappiness (broader, includes personal hardship)
• 惨事(さんじ): tragic event, catastrophe (emphasizes horror/severity)
• 厄災(やくさい): calamity (more literary/formal)

Usage

それは災難(さいなん)でしたね (That was quite a misfortune) is a common sympathetic response when hearing about someone's bad experience. The word often implies that the person is not at fault.