惨事(さんじ)

さんじ
noun
tragedy; catastrophe; disaster
1. tragedy; catastrophe; disaster
A horrific event that causes major loss of life or suffering, especially an accident or violent incident. Formal and emotive; common in news headlines.
惨事(さんじ)を防(ふせ)ぐ。
To prevent a tragedy.
あの事故(じこ)は大(だい)惨事(さんじ)となった。
That accident turned into a major tragedy.
戦争(せんそう)の惨事(さんじ)を二度(にど)と繰(く)り返(かえ)してはならない。
We must never repeat the tragedies of war.

The first kanji 惨(さん) means "miserable, cruel," giving the word a strong emotional weight. Reserved for genuinely catastrophic events — not for mere setbacks.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 大(だい)惨事(さんじ): major catastrophe; great tragedy
  • 惨事(さんじ)を招(まね)く: to bring about a disaster
  • 惨事(さんじ)を免(まぬが)れる: to avoid disaster
  • 惨事(さんじ)が起(お)きる: a tragedy occurs

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 悲劇(ひげき): tragedy — broader, includes fictional and personal tragedies
  • 災害(さいがい): disaster — usually natural disasters; neutral in tone
  • 大事故(だいじこ): major accident — concrete and factual, less emotive
general
Added 2026.5.30 12:10
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