被災者(ひさいしゃ)

ひさいしゃ
noun
disaster victim; disaster survivor
societynature
1. disaster victim; disaster survivor; affected person
A person who has suffered harm, loss, or displacement as a result of a natural disaster, accident, or other catastrophic event.
被災者(ひさいしゃ)に食料(しょくりょう)が届(とど)けられた。
Food was delivered to the disaster victims.
多(おお)くの被災者(ひさいしゃ)が避難所(ひなんじょ)で生活(せいかつ)している。
Many disaster victims are living in evacuation shelters.
地震(じしん)の被災者(ひさいしゃ)を支援(しえん)するため、全国(ぜんこく)から義援金(ぎえんきん)が集(あつ)まっている。
Donations are being collected from across the country to support the earthquake victims.

A compound of 被災(ひさい) (suffering a disaster) and 者(しゃ) (person). Very frequently used in news reports about earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and other natural disasters in Japan. The word is neutral and respectful — it does not imply helplessness, and is increasingly translated as "disaster survivor" in English.

Common collocations

Related words

  • 被災地(ひさいち): disaster-affected area
  • 被害者(ひがいしゃ): victim (of crime or accident) — broader term, not specific to disasters
  • 罹災者(りさいしゃ): disaster sufferer — more formal/legal synonym, less common in everyday use
  • 避難者(ひなんしゃ): evacuee — a person who has fled, not necessarily a victim

Related Words

Related: 被災地(ひさいち) (disaster-affected area)
Related: 被害者(ひがいしゃ) (victim)
Compare: 生存者(せいぞんしゃ) (survivor)
Compare: 遭難者 (victim of an accident)
Compare: 傷病者 (injured or sick person)
general
Added 2026.4.25 0:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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