劫难 (jié nàn) — calamity, misfortune

Definition

Literary word for a great 'calamity' — a sudden, devastating disaster or catastrophe. Heavier and more formal than everyday 灾难, often used for large-scale suffering.

noun
calamitymisfortune

Examples

  • 劫难，。
    Jīng lì le yì chǎng jù dà de jié nàn hòu, tā biàn de gèng jiā jiān qiáng le.
    After experiencing a huge calamity, he became stronger.
  • 劫难。
    Zhè chǎng jié nàn gěi zhěng gè chéng shì dài lái le wú fǎ wǎn huí de sǔn shī.
    This calamity brought irreparable loss to the entire city.
  • 劫难，。
    Rén men cóng guò qù de jié nàn zhōng xī qǔ jiào xùn, bì miǎn chóng dǎo fù zhé.
    People learn lessons from past misfortunes to avoid repeating mistakes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

劫jiédisaster
难nánmisfortune

“劫” and “难” both denote disaster or hardship, so together they mean a great calamity.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower, force
Sound part声符shēngfú
去
去qù劫jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

劫 pairs 去, which gives the sound, with 力, meaning power or force.

Open 劫 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

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