災(わざわ)い

わざわい
noun
disaster; calamity; misfortune
1. disaster; calamity; misfortune
A harmful event or trouble that brings suffering. More literary and weighty than everyday words for trouble, often used in proverbs and set phrases.
災(わざわ)いを招(まね)く。
To invite disaster.
口(くち)は災(わざわ)いの元(もと)と言(い)う。
They say the mouth is the source of misfortune.
不注意(ふちゅうい)な一言(ひとこと)が思(おも)わぬ災(わざわ)いを招(まね)くこともある。
A careless remark can sometimes invite unexpected trouble.

A weighty, somewhat literary word for harm or misfortune that befalls someone. Common in proverbs and set expressions.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 災(わざわ)いを招(まね)く: to invite disaster
  • 口(くち)は災(わざわ)いの元(もと): careless words bring trouble (proverb)
  • 災(わざわ)いを転(てん)じて福(ふく)と為(な)す: to turn misfortune into fortune (proverb)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 災害(さいがい): disaster — refers to large-scale natural or accidental disasters; 災(わざわ)い is broader and often about personal misfortune
general
Added 2026.5.21 12:11
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