1.
earthquake disaster; damage from an earthquake
Disaster and destruction caused by an earthquake. In Japan, the word is strongly associated with major historical earthquakes, especially the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923 and the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.
Cultural note
Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes, and 震災 is a word that carries deep emotional weight. The two most commonly referenced 震災 events are:
- 関東大震災 (Great Kantō Earthquake, 1923)
- 東日本大震災 (Great East Japan Earthquake, 2011)
When someone says simply 震災 without further specification, context usually makes clear which event is meant.
Common collocations
- 震災復興 (earthquake disaster recovery)
- 震災被害 (earthquake damage)
- 震災対策 (earthquake disaster countermeasures)
- 大震災 (great earthquake disaster)
- 震災から学ぶ (to learn from the earthquake disaster)