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disaster

HSK 10 N1
zāi
サイ
わざわ.い
Depicts a fire (火) and a flood (𡿧).
Components
Traditional (災)
𡿧 floods+ fire =
disaster
𡿧 Phonetic component
zāi floods
flood
View phonetic series →
Iconic component
huǒ fire
fire, flame
Simplified (灾)
roof+ fire =
calamity
Iconic component
mián roof
Iconic component
huǒ fire
fire, flame
Notes
Historical Evolution
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Seal
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Regular
Modern
Chinese
/ [zāi]
disaster; calamity
Example Sentences