災
災·disaster
- On-yomi
- サイ
- Kun-yomi
- わざわ(い)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 災害 | さいがい | disaster |
| 火災 | かさい | fire (as a disaster) |
| 災難 | さいなん | misfortune, mishap |
| 防災 | ぼうさい | disaster prevention |
Example sentences
火災が起きたら、すぐ逃げてください。
かさいがおきたら、すぐにげてください。
If a fire breaks out, please escape right away.
台風で大きな災害が起きた。
たいふうでおおきなさいがいがおきた。
The typhoon caused a major disaster.
学校で防災訓練を行った。
がっこうでぼうさいくんれんをおこなった。
We held a disaster drill at school.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 火災 as *ひさい
- Confusing 災害 (the disaster itself) with 被害 (the damage suffered)
Memory aid
Picture it
Flood water (巛) above fire (火) — the two great disasters stacked in one character.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 災 mean?