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B1 noun #38 よく出る 11分で読める

calamity

上位38

At the A1 level, the word 'calamity' is quite advanced. You can think of it as a very big, very bad thing that happens. Imagine a huge storm that breaks many houses or a fire that burns down a forest. It is not just a small problem like losing a pen. It is a 'big disaster.' When many people are sad because something very bad happened, you can call that a calamity. It is a word for a very sad and difficult time. For example, 'The big flood was a calamity for the town.' This means the flood was very bad and made everyone very unhappy and caused a lot of damage. You won't use this word often in basic English, but it's good to know it means 'a very big disaster.'

At the A2 level, you can start to understand 'calamity' as a formal way to say 'disaster' or 'terrible accident.' It is a noun that describes an event that causes a lot of trouble and pain. While 'bad luck' is for small things, 'calamity' is for big things that affect many people or a whole family. For instance, if a farmer loses all his crops because of no rain, that is a calamity. It is more serious than just a 'problem.' You might see this word in stories or news reports about big accidents. It helps you describe something that is very sad and has a big impact on people's lives. Remember, it's a strong word, so use it for serious situations.

At the B1 level, you should recognize 'calamity' as a word for a disaster that brings great distress or loss. It is often used in formal writing and news. A calamity is usually sudden and unexpected. It can be a natural event, like an earthquake, or a human event, like a financial crash. The key part of a calamity is the 'misfortune' or 'suffering' it causes. It's not just about the physical damage; it's about how the event makes people's lives much harder. You can use it to describe a situation that is truly disastrous. For example, 'The sudden closing of the factory was a calamity for the local economy.' This shows that the event had a very negative and widespread effect.

At the B2 level, you can appreciate the nuance of 'calamity' compared to other words like 'catastrophe' or 'adversity.' A calamity often implies a sense of ill-fortune or a 'stroke of bad luck' on a massive scale. It is a staple of formal and literary English. You should be able to use it in essays to describe significant historical events or potential future risks. For instance, you might write about the 'calamity of war' or an 'environmental calamity.' It suggests a level of ruin that is difficult to recover from. You should also be aware of the adjective form, 'calamitous,' and how it can describe actions or decisions that lead to disaster, such as a 'calamitous mistake.'

At the C1 level, 'calamity' is a precise tool for describing events with profound negative consequences. You understand that it carries a certain gravity and historical weight. It is often used to discuss the human condition and the unpredictable nature of fate. In academic or professional contexts, you might use 'calamity' to analyze the socio-economic impacts of a crisis. You can distinguish it from 'cataclysm,' which is more violent, and 'tragedy,' which has a more narrative or moral focus. A C1 learner uses 'calamity' to evoke a sense of profound misfortune and widespread suffering, often in complex sentence structures that explore the causes and effects of such events.

At the C2 level, 'calamity' is part of a sophisticated vocabulary used to explore deep themes of ruin, fate, and existential crisis. You can use the word to discuss philosophical concepts of misfortune or to critique historical narratives. You are aware of its etymological roots and its resonance in classic literature. A C2 speaker might use 'calamity' ironically or hyperbolically in a very specific context, but generally uses it to provide a high-register description of devastating events. You can weave it into complex arguments about systemic failures, environmental collapse, or the fragility of civilization, using it to emphasize the scale of suffering and the transformative nature of disaster.

練習する例文メモとヒント

calamity 30秒で

A calamity is a noun describing a major disaster or misfortune that causes significant suffering and loss for individuals or communities.
It is a formal word often used in news, history, and literature to emphasize the emotional and human impact of a tragic event.
Common examples include natural disasters like floods, or human-made crises like financial collapses or failed political policies.
The word carries more weight than 'problem' and focuses on the 'unfortunate' and 'distressing' nature of the event.

The word calamity is a powerful noun used to describe an event that results in great distress, damage, or significant loss. While it is often used interchangeably with 'disaster,' a calamity frequently carries a more personal or emotional weight, suggesting a profound misfortune that affects the soul of a community or the life of an individual. When you use this word, you are signaling that the situation is not merely a problem, but a transformative event of negative proportions. It is the kind of word found in historical accounts of great fires, famines, or the sudden downfall of a once-prosperous family. In modern usage, it remains a staple of formal journalism and literature, used to elevate the gravity of a situation from a simple accident to a tragic milestone.

Historical Context: In the 19th century, writers often used 'calamity' to describe natural events like crop failures which led to widespread hunger, emphasizing the helplessness of the victims.

The sudden collapse of the regional bank was a financial calamity that wiped out the savings of thousands of families.

The nuance of calamity lies in its unpredictability and its scale. It is rarely used for minor inconveniences unless one is being intentionally hyperbolic or dramatic. For instance, losing your keys is an annoyance; losing your home in a flood is a calamity. It implies a state of ruin that requires significant time and effort to overcome. It also suggests a sense of 'fate' or 'misfortune' that feels almost overwhelming to those involved. This word connects the physical damage of an event to the psychological suffering it causes.

Emotional Resonance: A calamity isn't just about the broken buildings; it's about the broken spirits and the long road to recovery that follows a tragic event.

Historians often refer to the Black Death as the greatest calamity to strike medieval Europe.

Furthermore, the word can be used to describe personal failures that have disastrous consequences. If a leader makes a decision that leads to the downfall of their organization, that decision might be labeled a 'calamity for the company.' In this sense, it bridges the gap between natural disasters and man-made errors. It is a word of high stakes, often appearing in headlines to grab attention or in speeches to convey the seriousness of a crisis.

Usage in Literature: Authors use the word to set a somber tone, often foreshadowing a series of unfortunate events that will challenge the protagonist's resolve.

To the small farming community, the three-year drought was a calamity of biblical proportions.

The sinking of the Titanic remains a legendary calamity that changed maritime safety laws forever.

The failure of the peace talks was seen as a calamity by those hoping for an end to the conflict.

Integrating 'calamity' into your vocabulary requires an understanding of its formal tone and its ability to describe both large-scale and deeply personal disasters. It often functions as the subject or the direct object of a sentence, frequently paired with verbs like 'strike,' 'befall,' 'avert,' or 'witness.' For example, one might say, 'Calamity struck the small town when the dam broke,' or 'The family worked tirelessly to avert a financial calamity.' The word is also frequently modified by adjectives that emphasize its scale, such as 'great,' 'sudden,' 'unforeseen,' or 'national.'

Common Verb Pairings: Strike, befall, suffer, avoid, prevent, describe, endure, survive.

No one could have predicted the calamity that would follow the earthquake.

When writing about history or social issues, 'calamity' helps to convey the gravity of the subject matter. It is more evocative than 'problem' or 'issue.' Consider the difference between 'The economic problem affected everyone' and 'The economic calamity left the nation in ruins.' The latter creates a much stronger mental image of devastation. It is also useful in academic writing to categorize events that had significant negative impacts on a population or environment.

Adjective Modifiers: Economic, environmental, personal, sudden, widespread, inevitable, avoidable.

The loss of the harvest was a calamity for the farmers who relied on it for their survival.

In personal narratives, 'calamity' can be used to describe a series of unfortunate events that feel like a single, massive disaster. For instance, 'The year was a total calamity; I lost my job, my car broke down, and my house flooded.' This usage shows how the word can encompass multiple smaller misfortunes that collectively create a state of disaster. It is a versatile word that scales from the global to the individual, provided the level of distress is high.

Prepositional Phrases: A calamity for [someone], the calamity of [something], in the wake of the calamity.

The town struggled to rebuild in the wake of the calamity.

It would be a calamity if the ancient library were to be destroyed.

Their lack of preparation turned a manageable storm into a full-scale calamity.

You are most likely to encounter 'calamity' in formal contexts such as news broadcasts, historical documentaries, and high-level political speeches. Journalists use it to describe large-scale tragedies like earthquakes, tsunamis, or economic collapses because it conveys the human impact of these events. In literature, especially in classic novels or epic poetry, 'calamity' is a standard term for the misfortunes that befall characters. It is also common in legal or insurance documents, where it might refer to 'acts of God' or other unforeseen disastrous events that cause significant property damage.

News Media: Used in headlines to emphasize the severity of a disaster and the urgent need for aid.

The news anchor described the wildfire as a 'natural calamity' that the state was ill-equipped to handle.

In academic settings, historians use the word to categorize periods of intense suffering or rapid decline. For example, the 'Calamitous 14th Century' is a common phrase used by historians to describe a period marked by the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War, and climate change. In this context, the word serves as a scholarly label for a time of widespread distress. You might also hear it in environmental science when discussing the potential 'calamity' of global warming and its effects on biodiversity and human civilization.

Academic Discourse: Used to analyze the long-term impacts of disasters on societal structures and economies.

The professor argued that the famine was a man-made calamity caused by poor policy decisions.

While less common in everyday casual conversation, 'calamity' can be used for dramatic effect or when someone is recounting a particularly harrowing experience. It might appear in a story about a wedding where everything went wrong, though this is often done with a touch of irony. However, in most cases, when you hear 'calamity,' the speaker is referring to something truly serious. It is a word that commands respect and attention, signaling that the topic at hand is of significant importance.

Pop Culture References: Characters like 'Calamity Jane' from the American Old West have cemented the word in the public consciousness, associating it with a life full of trouble and adventure.

The documentary explored the calamity of the Dust Bowl and its impact on American migration.

The CEO warned that a data breach would be a calamity for the company's reputation.

In the movie, the hero arrives just in time to prevent a global calamity.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is using 'calamity' for minor problems. Because the word has such a strong emotional and descriptive weight, using it for something like a broken pencil or a late bus can sound confusing or overly dramatic. It is important to reserve 'calamity' for events that cause significant distress or loss. Another common error is confusing the noun 'calamity' with its adjective form 'calamitous.' You would say 'The event was a calamity' (noun) or 'It was a calamitous event' (adjective), but never 'It was a calamity event.'

Scale of Severity: Don't use 'calamity' for inconveniences. Use it for disasters that change lives or communities.

Incorrect: It was a calamity that I forgot my lunch today.

Spelling can also be a challenge. The word is spelled c-a-l-a-m-i-t-y. Some people mistakenly add an extra 'l' or 'm,' or confuse the ending with '-ity' and '-ety.' Pronunciation is another area where mistakes occur; the stress is on the second syllable: ca-LAM-i-ty. Misplacing the stress can make the word difficult for native speakers to recognize. Additionally, while 'calamity' and 'catastrophe' are synonyms, 'catastrophe' often implies a more sudden and complete ending, while 'calamity' focuses more on the ongoing suffering and misfortune.

Spelling and Pronunciation: Remember: One 'l', one 'm', and the stress is on the 'LAM'.

Correct: The earthquake was a calamity that the region will take decades to recover from.

Finally, be careful with the plural form 'calamities.' It is used when referring to multiple disastrous events, often in a sequence. For example, 'A series of calamities led to the fall of the empire.' Some learners use the singular 'calamity' when they should use the plural to describe a collection of different disasters. Using the correct form helps clarify whether you are talking about one major event or a string of unfortunate occurrences that led to a disastrous outcome.

Grammatical Number: Use 'calamity' for one event and 'calamities' for several distinct disastrous events.

The explorer faced many calamities during his journey across the desert.

It is a calamity of such scale that no one was left untouched.

The policy was a calamity from the very beginning.

Understanding the synonyms of 'calamity' allows you to choose the most precise word for the situation you are describing. While 'disaster' is the most common alternative, it is often more clinical or technical. 'Catastrophe' is very similar but often implies a sudden, final, and dramatic conclusion. 'Tragedy' focuses on the human suffering and the sense of loss, often with a moral or narrative element. 'Misfortune' is a milder term, usually referring to bad luck that isn't necessarily life-altering on a grand scale.

Calamity vs. Disaster: A disaster is the event itself (the earthquake); a calamity is the state of distress and ruin it causes.
Calamity vs. Catastrophe: Catastrophe implies a sudden 'overturning' or total failure; calamity emphasizes the enduring misery and misfortune.

The flood was a natural disaster, but for the uninsured families, it was a personal calamity.

Other words like 'adversity' and 'mishap' are also related but have different intensities. 'Adversity' refers to ongoing difficulties or hardships that one must face and overcome, while 'calamity' is a specific, devastating event. A 'mishap' is a minor accident or a bit of bad luck, much less severe than a calamity. 'Cataclysm' is even stronger than calamity, usually referring to a violent social or political upheaval or a massive geological event that changes the world. Choosing between these words depends on the scale and the focus of your description.

Calamity vs. Adversity: Adversity is the struggle; calamity is the blow that starts the struggle.
Calamity vs. Mishap: A mishap is tripping over a rug; a calamity is the rug catching fire and burning the house down.

She faced her adversity with courage, even after the calamity of losing her business.

In poetic or archaic contexts, you might see the word 'woe' used as a synonym for calamity. 'Woe' captures the deep sorrow and grief associated with a great misfortune. In modern legal contexts, you might see 'casualty' or 'loss,' but these are much more specific and less evocative. 'Calamity' remains a unique word because it combines the physical reality of a disaster with the emotional reality of misfortune, making it an essential tool for expressive and impactful writing.

Summary of Alternatives: Disaster (General), Catastrophe (Sudden/Final), Tragedy (Human/Moral), Adversity (Ongoing Hardship), Cataclysm (Violent/Global).

The poet wrote of the calamity that befell his people during the long winter.

The stock market crash was a catastrophe for some and a calamity for all.

A simple mishap at the power plant nearly turned into a national calamity.

How Formal Is It?

フォーマル

ニュートラル

カジュアル

Child friendly

スラング

豆知識

Some etymologists believe the word might be related to the Greek 'klas' (to break), emphasizing the 'breaking' of one's fortunes.

発音ガイド

UK /kəˈlæm.ɪ.ti/

US /kəˈlæm.ə.t̬i/

ca-LAM-i-ty

韻が合う語

amity humanity insanity profanity vanity urbanity sanity inanity

よくある間違い

Stressing the first syllable (CA-lam-ity).
Pronouncing the 'i' as a long 'eye' sound.
Adding an extra 'l' sound.
Confusing the ending with '-ety' (like 'anxiety').
Mumbling the middle syllables.

難易度

読解 4/5

Common in literature and news, but requires understanding of formal tone.

ライティング 5/5

Requires careful use to avoid sounding overly dramatic in casual contexts.

スピーキング 5/5

Less common in daily speech; sounds very formal or hyperbolic.

リスニング 4/5

Easy to recognize once the stress pattern is learned.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

disaster problem sad damage loss

次に学ぶ

catastrophe cataclysm adversity tribulation resilience

上級

apocalypse armageddon debacle fiasco travesty

知っておくべき文法

Noun as Subject Complement

The storm was a calamity.

Pluralization of -y nouns

One calamity, two calamities.

Adjective formation with -ous

The decision was calamitous.

Prepositional usage with 'for'

It was a calamity for the town.

Using 'the' for specific events

The calamity of 1929.

レベル別の例文

The big fire was a calamity for the small village.

The big fire was a very big disaster for the small village.

Noun used as a subject complement.

A calamity is a very bad thing that happens.

A calamity is a very bad event.

Simple definition structure.

The flood was a calamity for the farm animals.

The flood was a disaster for the animals.

Prepositional phrase 'for the farm animals'.

They were sad after the calamity.

They were sad after the disaster.

Used after the preposition 'after'.

It was a calamity when the bridge broke.

It was a disaster when the bridge broke.

Introductory 'It was' structure.

The storm was a great calamity.

The storm was a big disaster.

Modified by the adjective 'great'.

No one likes a calamity.

No one likes a disaster.

Used as a direct object.

The calamity made many people lose their homes.

The disaster made people lose their houses.

Used as the subject of the sentence.

The earthquake was a calamity that destroyed many buildings.

The earthquake was a disaster that broke many houses.

Relative clause 'that destroyed many buildings'.

Losing all the money was a calamity for the family.

Losing the money was a disaster for the family.

Gerund phrase 'Losing all the money' as subject.

The news reported on the calamity in the distant country.

The news talked about the disaster in another country.

Prepositional phrase 'on the calamity'.

They tried to help the people after the calamity.

They tried to help after the disaster.

Infinitive 'to help' followed by the object.

A sudden calamity can change your life forever.

A quick disaster can change your life.

Modal verb 'can' expressing possibility.

The drought was a calamity for the farmers this year.

The dry weather was a disaster for the farmers.

Noun phrase 'The drought' as subject.

We must prepare so we can avoid a calamity.

We must get ready to stop a disaster.

Conjunction 'so' introducing a purpose clause.

The sinking of the ship was a terrible calamity.

The ship sinking was a very bad disaster.

Modified by the adjective 'terrible'.

The sudden collapse of the bridge was a national calamity.

The bridge falling down was a disaster for the whole country.

Adjective 'national' modifying the noun.

The town is still recovering from the calamity of last year's flood.

The town is still getting better after the flood disaster.

Present continuous 'is still recovering'.

It would be a calamity if the historic library were destroyed by fire.

It would be a disaster if the old library burned.

Second conditional 'It would be... if... were'.

The economic calamity led to widespread unemployment in the region.

The financial disaster caused many people to lose jobs.

Verb 'led to' showing cause and effect.

Historians describe the plague as a calamity that changed society.

Historians say the plague was a disaster that changed the world.

Verb 'describe... as' structure.

The failure of the peace talks was a calamity for the war-torn nation.

The peace talks failing was a disaster for the country at war.

Compound noun 'peace talks' as part of the subject.

She faced the calamity with remarkable strength and courage.

She dealt with the disaster with a lot of bravery.

Prepositional phrase 'with remarkable strength'.

The forest fire was a calamity for the local wildlife and environment.

The fire was a disaster for the animals and nature.

Coordinating conjunction 'and' connecting objects.

The unexpected bankruptcy of the major airline was a calamity for the travel industry.

The airline going broke was a huge disaster for travel.

Complex subject with multiple modifiers.

Unless we take action now, climate change could lead to an environmental calamity.

If we don't act, climate change will be a disaster for nature.

Conditional 'Unless' clause with modal 'could'.

The king's sudden death plunged the kingdom into a state of political calamity.

The king dying caused a big political disaster.

Verb 'plunged' used metaphorically.

The series of calamities that befell the expedition forced them to turn back.

The many disasters that happened to the group made them go home.

Plural 'calamities' and relative clause 'that befell'.

The loss of the ancient manuscripts was a calamity for the world of literature.

Losing the old books was a disaster for all readers.

Noun phrase as subject complement.

Many families were left destitute following the financial calamity of the 1930s.

Many families became very poor after the 1930s disaster.

Participle phrase 'following the financial calamity'.

The scientist warned that a leak at the plant would be a calamity of immense proportions.

The scientist said a leak would be a very, very big disaster.

Reported speech with 'warned that'.

He viewed the loss of his eyesight not as a calamity, but as a new challenge to overcome.

He didn't see being blind as a disaster, but as a challenge.

Correlative structure 'not as... but as'.

The Great Famine was a calamity that decimated the population and altered the course of history.

The famine was a disaster that killed many and changed history.

Use of 'decimated' to emphasize the scale of the calamity.

The hubris of the leadership led the nation directly into a self-inflicted calamity.

The leaders' pride caused a disaster they brought on themselves.

Adjective 'self-inflicted' modifying the noun.

In the wake of the calamity, the government faced intense scrutiny for its lack of preparation.

After the disaster, people looked closely at the government's mistakes.

Idiomatic expression 'In the wake of'.

The poet's work often explores the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming calamity.

The poet writes about how people stay strong during big disasters.

Abstract noun 'resilience' as the object of 'explores'.

The sudden devaluation of the currency was a calamity that wiped out the middle class overnight.

The money losing value was a disaster for middle-class people.

Adverb 'overnight' modifying the verb 'wiped out'.

To ignore the warnings of the experts is to invite a calamity of our own making.

Ignoring experts means we are asking for a disaster we caused.

Infinitive phrase 'to invite a calamity' as a subject complement.

The documentary meticulously chronicles the calamities that led to the eventual collapse of the dynasty.

The film shows all the disasters that made the dynasty fall.

Verb 'chronicles' with plural object 'calamities'.

The philosophical implications of such a calamity are still being debated by scholars today.

Scholars still talk about the deep meaning of this disaster.

Passive voice 'are still being debated'.

The catastrophic failure of the dam was a calamity that transcended mere engineering error, revealing deep systemic flaws.

The dam breaking was a disaster that showed bigger problems than just a mistake.

Complex sentence with a participial phrase and a relative clause.

One might argue that the true calamity of the era was not the war itself, but the erosion of moral values that preceded it.

The real disaster was the loss of morals before the war.

Subjunctive 'One might argue' and 'not... but' structure.

The sheer scale of the calamity rendered the traditional methods of aid and reconstruction utterly inadequate.

The disaster was so big that normal help was not enough.

Verb 'rendered' followed by an object and an adjective.

In his later years, the author became obsessed with the notion of 'inevitable calamity' as a recurring theme in human history.

The author thought disasters always happen in history.

Prepositional phrase 'with the notion of' followed by a quoted term.

The ecological calamity currently unfolding in the Amazon has implications that will resonate for generations.

The nature disaster in the Amazon will affect people for a long time.

Present participle 'unfolding' modifying 'calamity'.

The juxtaposition of the festive atmosphere with the impending calamity created a sense of profound unease.

The mix of a party and a coming disaster felt very wrong.

Noun 'juxtaposition' as the head of a complex subject.

To view the event as anything less than a national calamity would be a grave misjudgment of the public mood.

It would be a mistake not to see this as a big national disaster.

Negative comparison 'anything less than'.

The intricate web of calamities that led to the Great Depression remains a subject of intense economic analysis.

The many disasters that caused the Great Depression are still studied.

Metaphorical use of 'intricate web'.

よく使う組み合わせ

natural calamity

national calamity

economic calamity

strike a calamity

avert a calamity

suffer a calamity

unforeseen calamity

great calamity

personal calamity

in the wake of calamity

よく使うフレーズ

a recipe for calamity

the scale of the calamity

prone to calamity

a series of calamities

face a calamity

witness a calamity

recover from a calamity

the threat of calamity

prevent a calamity

the aftermath of the calamity

よく混同される語

calamity vs catastrophe

Catastrophe often implies a more sudden and complete end, while calamity focuses on the suffering.

calamity vs casualty

A casualty is a person killed or injured; a calamity is the event itself.

calamity vs calumny

Calumny means a false statement made to damage someone's reputation; it sounds similar but is unrelated.

慣用句と表現

"calamity Jane"

A person who is always associated with trouble or misfortune.

Don't be such a Calamity Jane; things aren't that bad!

informal

"court calamity"

To act in a way that is likely to cause a disaster.

By ignoring the warnings, the captain was courting calamity.

formal

"invite calamity"

To do something that makes a disaster very likely.

Building on a flood plain is just inviting calamity.

neutral

"a brush with calamity"

A situation where a disaster almost happened but was avoided.

The near-miss at the airport was a terrifying brush with calamity.

neutral

"the brink of calamity"

Very close to a disastrous situation.

The country was on the brink of economic calamity.

formal

"stave off calamity"

To delay or prevent a disaster from happening.

The emergency loan helped stave off a financial calamity.

formal

"wrestled with calamity"

To struggle hard to deal with a disaster.

The government wrestled with the calamity for months.

literary

"born of calamity"

Something that was created as a result of a disaster.

The new safety agency was born of the recent calamity.

formal

"shadowed by calamity"

To be constantly affected by or worried about disasters.

His entire childhood was shadowed by calamity.

literary

"unscathed by calamity"

To come through a disaster without being hurt or damaged.

Remarkably, the old church remained unscathed by the calamity.

formal

間違えやすい

calamity vs Catastrophe

Both mean a big disaster.

Catastrophe is often more sudden and dramatic; calamity emphasizes the ongoing misfortune and distress.

The play's ending was a catastrophe, but the loss of the theater was a calamity for the actors.

calamity vs Adversity

Both involve difficulty.

Adversity is a state of ongoing hardship; calamity is a specific, devastating event.

He faced much adversity in his life, including the calamity of losing his home.

calamity vs Tragedy

Both involve sadness and loss.

Tragedy often implies a moral or narrative element where a hero falls; calamity is more about the event's destructive impact.

The hero's death was a tragedy, but the earthquake was a calamity for the whole city.

calamity vs Mishap

Both are types of accidents.

A mishap is minor and often funny in hindsight; a calamity is serious and devastating.

Spilling the wine was a mishap; the house burning down was a calamity.

calamity vs Cataclysm

Both are very strong words for disaster.

Cataclysm usually refers to a violent upheaval on a massive, often global or geological scale.

The asteroid impact was a cataclysm that ended the era of dinosaurs.

文型パターン

The [Noun] was a calamity.

The fire was a calamity.

It was a calamity for [Person/Group].

It was a calamity for the farmers.

[Event] struck like a calamity.

The flood struck like a calamity.

A series of calamities led to [Result].

A series of calamities led to the company's fall.

In the wake of the calamity, [Clause].

In the wake of the calamity, the laws were changed.

To view it as anything less than a calamity is [Adjective].

To view it as anything less than a calamity is foolish.

The calamity of [Noun] affected everyone.

The calamity of the war affected everyone.

They worked to avert a [Adjective] calamity.

They worked to avert a financial calamity.

語族

名詞

形容詞

使い方

frequency

Medium-Low (More common in writing than speech)

よくある間違い

Using 'calamity' for a minor annoyance. → Using 'mishap' or 'nuisance'.
'Calamity' implies deep suffering and significant loss, not just a small problem.
Saying 'a calamity event'. → Saying 'a calamitous event'.
You must use the adjective form 'calamitous' to modify another noun.
Spelling it 'calamety'. → Spelling it 'calamity'.
The word ends in '-ity', a common suffix for nouns indicating a state or quality.
Stressing the first syllable: CA-lamity. → Stressing the second syllable: ca-LAM-ity.
English words ending in '-ity' almost always have the stress on the syllable before the suffix.
Confusing 'calamity' with 'calumny'. → Using 'calamity' for disaster and 'calumny' for slander.
They sound similar but have completely different meanings.

ヒント

Choose the Right Scale

Only use 'calamity' for events that cause significant distress. For smaller things, use 'mishap' or 'problem'.

Noun vs. Adjective

Remember that 'calamity' is the thing (noun) and 'calamitous' describes the thing (adjective).

Formal Tone

Use 'calamity' in formal writing to show that you understand the gravity of a situation.

Synonym Nuance

Use 'calamity' instead of 'disaster' when you want to focus on the misfortune and suffering involved.

Stress the 'LAM'

Always put the emphasis on the second syllable to sound natural: ca-LAM-i-ty.

Verb Pairings

Use strong verbs like 'strike,' 'befall,' or 'avert' when writing about a calamity.

Context Clues

When you see 'calamity' in a book, look for words like 'ruin,' 'loss,' or 'suffering' nearby.

Calamity Jane

Think of the famous historical figure Calamity Jane to help you remember the word's association with trouble.

News Keywords

Listen for 'calamity' in international news to identify reports about major crises.

Hyperbole

If you use 'calamity' for something small, make sure your tone shows you are being dramatic or funny.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of a 'CLAM' that is 'ITTY' bitty and gets crushed by a giant wave. The 'CLAM-ITY' is a disaster for the little clam!

視覚的連想

Imagine a giant, dark storm cloud shaped like the letter 'C' dropping heavy rain and lightning on a small, peaceful town.

Word Web

Disaster Misfortune Suffering Tragedy Loss Ruin Crisis Catastrophe

チャレンジ

Try to write a sentence using 'calamity' to describe a historical event you know about, and then use 'calamitous' to describe a decision made during that event.

語源

Derived from the Middle French 'calamité' and directly from the Latin 'calamitatem' (nominative 'calamitas').

元の意味： In Latin, it originally referred to damage to crops, possibly from 'calamus' (reed or stalk of corn), implying a blight or storm that breaks the stalks.

Indo-European (Latinate)

文化的な背景

Be careful when using 'calamity' to describe current events involving loss of life; ensure the tone is respectful and serious.

In the US and UK, the word is frequently used in high-quality journalism (like The New York Times or The Guardian) to describe major crises.

Calamity Jane (historical figure and musical) The Calamity (a central event in the video game 'Bastion') Calamity Ganon (the main antagonist in 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild')

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Natural Disasters

natural calamity
stricken by calamity
relief efforts after the calamity
unprecedented calamity

Economics and Finance

financial calamity
economic calamity
market calamity
avert a fiscal calamity

History and Literature

historical calamity
the calamity of war
a series of personal calamities
chronicle a calamity

Politics and Policy

national calamity
political calamity
diplomatic calamity
policy-driven calamity

Personal Life

personal calamity
family calamity
a week of calamities
survive a calamity

会話のきっかけ

"What do you think is the greatest calamity to ever strike our country?"

"Have you ever read a book where a calamity changes the main character's life?"

"How can a community best prepare for a natural calamity like a flood?"

"Do you think the word 'calamity' is used too often in news headlines today?"

"Can you describe a time when a small mistake turned into a minor calamity?"

日記のテーマ

Reflect on a historical calamity and how it shaped the world we live in today.

Write about a time you faced a personal calamity and what you learned from the experience.

Imagine a future where a major calamity is avoided. What steps were taken to prevent it?

How does the media's description of a calamity affect the way people respond to it?

Discuss the difference between a 'disaster' and a 'calamity' in your own words.

よくある質問

10 問

No, while it often refers to natural events like floods or earthquakes, it can also describe human-made disasters like financial collapses, wars, or even personal misfortunes like losing a job and a home simultaneously.

It is pronounced kə-ˈlæm-ə-t̬i. The stress is on the second syllable 'LAM'. The first syllable is a short 'kuh' sound.

Generally, no. Using 'calamity' for a small mistake like forgetting your keys sounds sarcastic or overly dramatic. It should be reserved for serious events.

They are very similar, but 'calamity' often emphasizes the human suffering and the sense of 'bad luck' or 'misfortune' more than 'disaster' does.

It is not very common in casual daily talk. You are more likely to hear it in news reports, formal speeches, or read it in books.

The adjective form is 'calamitous,' as in 'a calamitous decision' or 'calamitous weather.'

Yes, it is countable. You can say 'a calamity' or 'many calamities.'

It comes from the Latin word 'calamitas,' which originally referred to damage to crops, like from a storm or blight.

No, 'calamity' is only a noun. There is no verb form of this word.

Common synonyms include disaster, catastrophe, tragedy, misfortune, and cataclysm.