災 害(さいがい)

さいがい

noun

disaster; calamity

1. disaster; calamity; catastrophe

A sudden event causing widespread damage, destruction, or distress, including natural disasters and man-made catastrophes.

災害(さいがい)に備(そな)えて非常食(ひじょうしょく)を用意(ようい)した。

I prepared emergency food in case of a disaster.

自然(しぜん)災害(さいがい)で多(おお)くの人(ひと)が被害(ひがい)を受(う)けた。

Many people were affected by the natural disaster.

災害(さいがい)時(じ)の避難(ひなん)場所(ばしょ)を確認(かくにん)しておこう。

Let's check the evacuation site for emergencies.

災害(さいがい) is a broad term covering both natural and man-made disasters. Japan is particularly prone to 自然(しぜん)災害(さいがい) due to its geography, making disaster preparedness a central part of daily life.

Common collocations

自然(しぜん)災害(さいがい): natural disaster
災害(さいがい)対策(たいさく): disaster countermeasures
災害(さいがい)時(じ): at the time of disaster
災害(さいがい)に備(そな)える: to prepare for disasters
災害(さいがい)派遣(はけん): disaster relief deployment
災害(さいがい)保険(ほけん): disaster insurance

Types of disasters

Related Words

Related: 被害(ひがい) (damage, harm)

Related: 火災(かさい) (fire (disaster))

Compare: 事故(じこ) (accident)

Compare: 災難(さいなん) (calamity, disaster, misfortune)

Related: 防災(ぼうさい) (disaster prevention)

Related: 土砂崩(どしゃくず)れ (landslide, mudslide)

Compare: 被災(ひさい) (being affected by a disaster)

Compare: 災厄(さいやく) (calamity)

Compare: 厄災(やくさい) (calamity)

Compare: 災(わざわ)い (disaster)

general

Added 2026.2.3 11:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

09500/09636_saigai