재난
A disaster is a sudden, terrible event that causes a lot of damage or harm.
Explanation at your level:
A disaster is a very bad thing that happens suddenly. It can be a big storm or a fire. It makes people sad and hurts houses. We must be careful.
A disaster is a serious event that causes damage. Examples include earthquakes or floods. When a disaster happens, people need help to fix their homes and stay safe.
When we talk about disasters, we mean events that cause significant harm to a community. These can be natural, like floods, or caused by people. Governments usually have plans to manage disaster relief and keep citizens safe during these times.
The term disaster implies a catastrophic event that overwhelms local capacity. It is frequently used in professional contexts, such as 'disaster management' or 'disaster recovery.' Using this word correctly helps convey the severity of a situation in a professional or news-related setting.
In advanced English, disaster is often used metaphorically to describe a project or plan that fails completely. While the literal meaning refers to physical destruction, the figurative usage highlights a total lack of success. Understanding this nuance allows you to describe complex situations with precision and impact.
Etymologically, disaster links back to 'ill-starred' events, a nuance still felt in literary contexts. It denotes not just destruction, but a sense of inevitability or cosmic misfortune. Mastery involves distinguishing between a 'catastrophe' (often sudden and violent) and a 'disaster' (which implies a broader scope of failure or loss).
30秒词汇
- Disaster is a sudden, destructive event.
- It is a countable noun used for serious situations.
- Common collocations include 'natural disaster' and 'disaster relief'.
- Use 'disastrous' for the adjective form.
When we talk about 재난 (disaster), we are referring to something serious. It is an event that causes widespread destruction or distress. Think of it as a situation that catches everyone off guard and leaves a lasting impact on a community.
In English, the word disaster is quite powerful. It isn't just a small problem; it is a major crisis. Whether it is a natural disaster like a hurricane or a man-made one, the core meaning remains the same: a sudden collapse of safety.
The English word 'disaster' has a fascinating history. It comes from the Middle French désastre, which traces back to the Italian disastro. The prefix dis- means 'away' or 'apart,' and astro comes from the Greek word for 'star.'
Historically, people believed that disasters were caused by the 'ill-fated' position of the stars or planets. It was a way of explaining why bad things happened out of nowhere. Over time, the meaning shifted from astrological bad luck to any major calamity.
You will often hear 재난 used in news reports or formal discussions about safety. Common phrases include natural disaster, prevent a disaster, or disaster relief. It is a serious word, so we don't usually use it for minor inconveniences.
If you spill your coffee, that is a 'mess' or a 'nuisance,' not a disaster. Save this word for when things go truly wrong on a large scale. It carries a heavy, urgent tone that commands attention.
1. Recipe for disaster: A situation that is sure to go wrong. Example: 'Leaving the kids alone with the paint was a recipe for disaster.'
2. Disaster area: A place that is very messy. Example: 'Your bedroom is a total disaster area!'
3. Avert a disaster: To stop something bad from happening. Example: 'The pilot managed to avert a disaster.'
4. Spell disaster: To indicate that something will fail. Example: 'Ignoring the warnings will spell disaster.'
5. Court disaster: To act in a way that invites trouble. Example: 'Driving on icy roads is courting disaster.'
The word 'disaster' is a countable noun. You can say 'a disaster' or 'the disasters.' It is pronounced /dɪˈzæstər/ in US English and /dɪˈzɑːstə/ in UK English. Note the stress on the second syllable.
It rhymes with words like master, plaster, and faster. When using it in a sentence, it often follows verbs like cause, prevent, or face. It is a standard noun that fits easily into most sentence structures.
Fun Fact
It originally referred to the influence of stars on human events.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'dih-ZAH-stuh'
Sounds like 'dih-ZAS-ter'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 's' as 'z'
- Ignoring the stress on the second syllable
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Countable vs Uncountable
a disaster (countable)
Adjective formation
disaster -> disastrous
Verb collocations
cause/prevent
Examples by Level
The storm was a disaster.
Storm = bad weather
Simple subject-verb
The fire was a disaster.
Fire = burning
Past tense
We need help after the disaster.
Help = assistance
Preposition 'after'
The flood caused a disaster.
Flood = too much water
Verb 'caused'
It was a big disaster.
Big = large
Adjective 'big'
The city had a disaster.
City = town
Verb 'had'
Is the disaster over?
Over = finished
Question form
The disaster was sad.
Sad = unhappy
Adjective 'sad'
The earthquake was a terrible disaster.
Many people helped after the disaster.
The government prepared for the disaster.
We saw the disaster on the news.
The disaster destroyed the bridge.
They are recovering from the disaster.
The disaster changed our lives.
We must prevent another disaster.
The hurricane was declared a national disaster.
Emergency teams arrived quickly after the disaster.
The company faced a financial disaster.
We are organizing funds for disaster relief.
The earthquake was the worst disaster in years.
They provided shelter for disaster victims.
The project was a complete disaster.
We need to plan for potential disasters.
The flood was an environmental disaster of epic proportions.
His attempt to fix the engine was a total disaster.
The disaster management team was highly efficient.
They implemented new policies to mitigate disaster risk.
The economic collapse was a disaster for the country.
She described the meeting as a bureaucratic disaster.
The disaster left the town in ruins.
We must analyze the causes of this disaster.
The policy change proved to be an unmitigated disaster for the administration.
The historical account detailed the social impact of the disaster.
The architect warned that the design was a recipe for disaster.
The disaster was a turning point in the city's history.
His speech was a rhetorical disaster that alienated the audience.
The team avoided a potential disaster through quick thinking.
The disaster highlighted the fragility of our infrastructure.
The aftermath of the disaster was captured in several documentaries.
The collapse of the bridge was a man-made disaster of unprecedented scale.
The disaster served as a grim reminder of human fallibility.
The poet lamented the disaster that befell the ancient kingdom.
The disaster, while tragic, spurred a new era of civic innovation.
The systemic failure was a disaster waiting to happen.
The disaster shattered the fragile peace in the region.
The narrative explores the psychological scars left by the disaster.
The disaster was an existential threat to the community.
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"Recipe for disaster"
A situation that is certain to go wrong
Mixing those chemicals is a recipe for disaster.
casual"Spell disaster"
To indicate that something will fail
This lack of planning spells disaster.
neutral"Court disaster"
To risk something bad happening
You are courting disaster by driving so fast.
neutral"Disaster area"
A very messy or chaotic place
This kitchen is a disaster area!
casual"Avert disaster"
To stop a bad event
They worked hard to avert disaster.
formal"Avoid disaster"
To keep something bad from happening
We managed to avoid disaster by leaving early.
neutralEasily Confused
both mean bad events
tragedy is about loss, disaster is about destruction
The fire was a disaster; the loss of life was a tragedy.
both mean things went wrong
mess is small, disaster is large
My desk is a mess; the storm was a disaster.
both are sudden
accident is usually smaller and unintentional
I had a car accident; the flood was a disaster.
both imply bad outcomes
failure is a result, disaster is an event
The project was a failure; the explosion was a disaster.
Sentence Patterns
The [event] was a disaster.
The party was a disaster.
We must prevent a disaster.
We must prevent a disaster.
The town faced a disaster.
The town faced a disaster.
It was a recipe for disaster.
It was a recipe for disaster.
The disaster caused great damage.
The disaster caused great damage.
词族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
相关
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
常见错误
Disaster is for large-scale damage.
The correct spelling uses 'i' not 'e'.
Disaster is a noun; disastrous is the adjective.
Disaster refers to the event, not the feeling.
Ensure countability matches the context.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a star falling on your house.
When Native Speakers Use It
In news headlines.
Cultural Insight
Often associated with emergency response.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember 'disastrous' ends in -ous.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'z' sound in the middle.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't spell it with an 'e' in the middle.
Did You Know?
It relates to stars.
Study Smart
Use flashcards with 'disaster' and 'relief'.
Register Check
Keep it for serious events.
Verb Patterns
Use 'cause' or 'prevent' before it.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Dis-aster: The stars (aster) turned against us (dis).
Visual Association
A storm blowing away a house.
Word Web
挑战
Write three sentences using 'disaster'.
词源
French/Italian
Original meaning: ill-starred
文化背景
Avoid using it lightly to describe personal minor problems.
Commonly used in news and emergency services.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
News/Media
- natural disaster
- disaster relief
- emergency response
Work/Projects
- total disaster
- recipe for disaster
- avoid disaster
School/Home
- disaster area
- what a disaster
- clean up the disaster
History/Science
- catastrophic disaster
- environmental disaster
- geological disaster
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever seen a natural disaster on the news?"
"What do you think is the best way to prepare for a disaster?"
"Have you ever had a day that felt like a total disaster?"
"How can communities help each other after a disaster?"
"Why do you think people are fascinated by disaster movies?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation.
What are the most important items to have in a disaster kit?
Write about why it is important to help others in need.
Reflect on a news story about a disaster you saw recently.
常见问题
8 个问题Yes, you can have one disaster or many disasters.
It is better to use 'mistake' or 'mess'.
Tragedy often implies personal loss; disaster implies destruction.
Disastrous.
Yes, to describe financial failure.
An event like a flood or earthquake.
Yes, but 'major disaster' sounds more formal.
On the second syllable.
自我测试
The ___ was very bad.
Disaster fits the context of 'bad'.
Which word means a big, bad event?
Disaster is the correct term.
A disaster is always a good thing.
A disaster is a bad event.
Word
意思
Definitions match.
The disaster was big.
The earthquake was a natural ___.
Earthquakes are natural disasters.
Which is an adjective form?
Disastrous is the adjective.
You can use 'disaster' to describe a failed business.
It is used metaphorically for failure.
Word
意思
Synonym/antonym matching.
It is a recipe for disaster.
得分： /10
Summary
A disaster is a significant, sudden event that causes widespread destruction or harm, requiring serious attention.
- Disaster is a sudden, destructive event.
- It is a countable noun used for serious situations.
- Common collocations include 'natural disaster' and 'disaster relief'.
- Use 'disastrous' for the adjective form.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a star falling on your house.
When Native Speakers Use It
In news headlines.
Cultural Insight
Often associated with emergency response.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember 'disastrous' ends in -ous.
例句
지진으로 인한 재난 지역에 군대가 파견되었다.
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这个词在其他语言中
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보급품
B1Items necessary for an army, such as food, equipment, and ammunition; supplies.
전쟁터
B1A place where a battle is fought; battlefield.
경고하다
A1To inform someone of a possible danger or problem; to warn.
점령하다
A1To take control of a place, especially by military force; to occupy.
해방하다
A1To set free from oppression or captivity; to liberate.
철수하다
A1To remove troops from an area; to withdraw.
피하다
A1To keep away from or prevent; to avoid, dodge.
고통스럽다
B1To be painful or agonizing.
엄숙하다
B2To be solemn or grave, often for ceremonies.
비상하다
B1To be urgent or in an emergency state.
