災難(さいなん)

さいなん
noun
calamity, disaster, misfortune
1. calamity, disaster, misfortune, catastrophe
An unfortunate event or accident that causes great damage, suffering, or hardship.
思(おも)わぬ災難(さいなん)に遭(あ)った。
I encountered an unexpected misfortune.
災難(さいなん)は忘(わす)れた頃(ころ)にやってくる。
Disasters come when you least expect them.
Proverb
それは災難(さいなん)でしたね。
That was an unfortunate incident.

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.

general
Added 2026.1.13 23:00 · Revised 2026.3.26 17:50
04000/04161_sainan