Translation and Meaning of: 災難 - sainan

The Japanese word 災難 (さいなん, sainan) is a term that carries significant weight in the language, often associated with difficult situations or misfortunes. If you are studying Japanese or just curious about expressions that describe adversities, understanding the meaning and use of this word can be very helpful. In this article, we will explore its origin and writing, as well as how it is used in daily life and Japanese culture.

In addition to uncovering what 災難 represents, we will also explore tips for memorizing it and contexts in which it appears, whether in everyday conversations or in works of Japanese media. If you have used the Suki Nihongo dictionary to look up complex terms, you know how important it is to have clear and precise information – and that is what we aim to provide here.

Meaning and usage of 災難

災難 is a word that describes disasters, calamities, or unfortunate events that are beyond human control. It can be used for both serious situations, like natural accidents, and for smaller everyday problems, such as missing a train or breaking an important object. The flexibility of this term allows it to be applied in various contexts, from formal to colloquial.

In Japan, it is common to hear expressions like "それは災難だったね" (Sore wa sainan datta ne), which means "That was unfortunate, wasn't it?". This type of phrase shows how the word is rooted in the language to express solidarity in the face of difficulties. It is worth noting that, although 災難 is a strong term, it is not necessarily dramatic – it all depends on the tone and the situation in which it is used.

Origin and writing of 災難

The composition of 災難 comes from two kanjis: 災 (sai), which means "disaster" or "calamity," and 難 (nan), which represents "difficulty" or "problem." Together, they form a broad idea of adversity. It is interesting to note that the first kanji, 災, appears in other words related to catastrophes, such as 災害 (saihai, "natural disaster"), while 難 is used in terms like 困難 (konnan, "difficulty").

To memorize the writing, a tip is to associate the radical 火 (fire) present in 災, which refers to destructive events, while 難 can be remembered by its presence in words that indicate obstacles. This breakdown helps to solidify not only the term itself but also other vocabulary that shares the same kanji.

Disasters in Japanese culture and media

In Japanese culture, 災難 is a concept that appears quite frequently in proverbs and popular expressions. One example is the saying "災難は忘れた頃にやってくる" (Sainan wa wasureta koro ni yatte kuru), which means "Misfortune comes when you least expect it." This type of phrase reflects a philosophical view on the unpredictability of life, something that is very present in Japanese thought.

Moreover, the word is used in news, dramas, and even animes to describe crisis situations or unexpected twists. If you watch Japanese productions, you may have come across dialogues like "これは大きな災難だ" (Kore wa ooki na sainan da), which translates to something like "This is a great disaster." This usage reinforces how the term is integrated into both everyday speech and fictional narrative.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 厄災 (yakusai) - Disaster or calamity, often associated with bad luck.
• 不幸 (fukou) - Unhappiness or misfortune, a condition of suffering.
• 災害 (saigai) - Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and typhoons.
• 災厄 (saiyaku) - Disaster or misfortune, similar to 厄災, but used in more general contexts.
• 災難 (sainan) - Calamity or disaster is one of the broadest terms for disasters.
• 災い (wazawai) - Misfortune, disaster, or bad luck, emphasizing the aspect of pity and suffering.
• 災難事 (sainanji) - Calamitous events or disastrous incidents that cause damage.
• 災難災害 (sainansaigai) - Calamity resulting from a natural disaster; emphasizes the relationship between calamity and disaster.
• 災難不幸 (sainan fukou) - Unhappiness resulting from calamities; highlights the intersection of misfortune and disasters.
• 災難災厄 (sainansaiyaku) - Calamities that represent misfortune, encompassing disasters of various kinds.
• 災難苦しみ (sainan kurushimi) - The pain or suffering that results from calamities.
• 災難苦悩 (sainan kuron) - Anguish and sorrow associated with disasters or calamities.
• 災難苦痛 (sainan kutsuu) - Intense pain or suffering caused by calamities.
• 災難苦労 (sainan kurou) - Work and effort that arise as a consequence of disasters or misfortunes.
• 災難苦心 (sainan kushin) - Concerns and anxieties caused by calamities.
• 災難苦慮 (sainan kuroryo) - Concerns and anxieties due to disasters.
• 災難苦闘 (sainan kutou) - Fight and battle against the effects of calamities or disasters.

災難

Romaji: sainan
Kana: さいなん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: calamity; misfortune

Meaning in English: calamity;misfortune

Definition: disaster or unfortunate event.

Example Sentences - (災難) sainan

See below some example sentences:

とんだ災難だ。

Ton da sainan da

What a disaster.

It's a terrible disaster.

• とんだ - an expression that means "great" or "terrible"
• 災難 - a term that means "disaster" or "calamity"
• だ - a particle that indicates the conclusion of a sentence

彼は災難から免れた。

Kare wa sainan kara manereta

He escaped disaster.

• 彼 - The Japanese pronoun that means "he" is 彼 (かれ, kare).
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 災難 - Japanese noun meaning "disaster" or "calamity"
• から - Japanese particle that indicates "from" or "out of"
• 免れた - Japanese verb that means "escape" or "avoid"