Japanese meaning of 天災人禍
Reading:
てんさいじんか (tensai jinka)
English Translation:
Natural and man-made disasters
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Natural disasters and man-made calamities.
Cultural Context:
Used in political commentary or disaster reports.
自然災害と人為的災害。
政治評論や災害報道で使われることが多い。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase used to indicate disasters caused by both nature and humans; often with “に見舞われる.”
Trap for English Speakers
May be understood only as natural disasters, ignoring the human-caused aspect.
Example
Basic Example
その都市は天災人禍に何度も見舞われた。
The city has been struck by natural and man-made disasters many times.
Applied Example
地震と火災が同時に発生し、まさに天災人禍の惨状となった。
An earthquake and a fire struck simultaneously, creating a scene of both natural and man-made disasters.