1.
natural disaster; natural calamity
A disaster caused by natural forces such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, or droughts, as opposed to one caused by human action.
天災が起きた。
A natural disaster occurred.
天災に備えて水を用意する。
I keep water ready in case of a natural disaster.
今回の被害は天災ではなく人災だと言われている。
This damage is said to be a man-made disaster rather than a natural one.
Refers to a disaster brought about by nature rather than by human error.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 天災に備える: to prepare for a natural disaster
- 天災に遭う: to be struck by a natural disaster
- 思わぬ天災: an unexpected disaster
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 人災: man-made disaster — caused by human negligence or error
- 災害: disaster — broader term covering both natural and man-made events