Disaster refers to any destructive event that causes significant harm to society or the environment.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers to events causing severe damage.
- Includes natural disasters and human-made catastrophes.
- Often used in formal reporting and safety contexts.
Overview
- 1概览：灾害是一个核心词汇，用于描述那些超出人类控制范围、导致重大损失的负面事件。它涵盖了自然因素（如气候变化、地质活动）和人为因素（如工业事故）。2) 用法模式：‘灾害’通常作为主语或宾语，常与动词‘发生’、‘造成’、‘预防’搭配。例如，我们常说‘预防自然灾害’。3) 常见语境：在新闻报道、政府公告及科学讨论中，该词出现频率极高。它不仅仅指单一的事件，有时也指一种长期的威胁。4) 近义词辨析：‘灾害’侧重于对社会和环境的破坏程度；‘灾难’语气更重，常带有悲剧色彩；‘事故’则多指人为的、局部的突发事件，程度通常比灾害轻。
Examples
预防自然灾害非常重要。
everydayPreventing natural disasters is very important.
政府正在评估此次灾害造成的经济损失。
formalThe government is assessing the economic losses caused by the disaster.
这次大火真是一场灾害。
informalThis fire was truly a disaster.
气候变化加剧了全球范围内的极端灾害。
academicClimate change has exacerbated extreme disasters worldwide.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
防灾减灾
Disaster prevention and mitigation
受灾地区
Affected area
灾害预警
Disaster warning
Often Confused With
灾难 is more emotionally charged and often refers to human suffering or tragedy, whereas 灾害 is more technical.
事故 usually refers to localized, human-caused events like traffic accidents, not large-scale natural events.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term '灾害' is primarily used in formal, objective, or journalistic contexts. It is standard for discussing public safety and environmental issues. Avoid using it for trivial personal problems.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use '灾害' for minor personal accidents, which sounds unnatural. Remember that '灾害' implies large-scale impact. Also, ensure the word is paired with appropriate verbs like 'prevent' or 'mitigate'.
Tips
Use with prevention verbs
Always pair '灾害' with verbs like '预防' (prevent) or '应对' (respond to). This makes your language sound professional and proactive.
Do not confuse with minor accidents
Avoid using '灾害' for small daily mishaps like dropping a glass. Use '事故' or '意外' instead.
Focus on disaster management
In Chinese culture, disaster management is a major government priority. Understanding this term is essential for reading news about public safety.
Word Origin
The character 灾 (zāi) consists of a roof (宀) and fire (火), symbolizing a house on fire. It evolved to represent any calamity caused by fire or nature.
Cultural Context
In China, disaster relief is a symbol of state capability and social solidarity. The term is frequently heard in the context of national emergency management.
Memory Tip
Think of '灾' as a roof falling on fire. It represents a massive, destructive event that requires collective action.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions‘灾害’更偏向于客观描述破坏性事件，常用于科学或政府报告；‘灾难’则带有更强的情感色彩，强调痛苦和悲剧性。
通常不可以。‘灾害’通常指涉及群体、社会或大范围环境的严重事件，个人生活中的困难更适合用‘挫折’或‘麻烦’。
你可以将其作为主语（如：灾害发生了）或宾语（如：减少灾害损失）。它通常与‘预防’、‘应对’等词搭配使用。
是的，‘自然灾害’是关于地震、洪水、台风等现象最标准的表达方式，在新闻和法律文件中极其常用。
Test Yourself
为了减少___带来的损失，政府加强了预警系统。
因为上下文提到减少损失和预警系统，符合灾害的语境。
以下哪项最符合‘自然灾害’的定义？
地震是典型的自然灾害。
灾害 / 预防 / 很 / 重要 / 自然
这是标准的中文语序，主谓宾结构清晰。
Score: /3
Summary
Disaster refers to any destructive event that causes significant harm to society or the environment.
- Refers to events causing severe damage.
- Includes natural disasters and human-made catastrophes.
- Often used in formal reporting and safety contexts.
Use with prevention verbs
Always pair '灾害' with verbs like '预防' (prevent) or '应对' (respond to). This makes your language sound professional and proactive.
Do not confuse with minor accidents
Avoid using '灾害' for small daily mishaps like dropping a glass. Use '事故' or '意外' instead.
Focus on disaster management
In Chinese culture, disaster management is a major government priority. Understanding this term is essential for reading news about public safety.
Examples
4 of 4预防自然灾害非常重要。
Preventing natural disasters is very important.
政府正在评估此次灾害造成的经济损失。
The government is assessing the economic losses caused by the disaster.
这次大火真是一场灾害。
This fire was truly a disaster.
气候变化加剧了全球范围内的极端灾害。
Climate change has exacerbated extreme disasters worldwide.
