zoi1 naan6災難灾难
Jyutpingzoi1 naan6
Yalejōi naahn
Definition
Disaster; catastrophe; an event that threatens or destroys human living conditions.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers to large scale events like natural disasters or major accidents. It is often used in a slightly dramatic tone to emphasize the scale of destruction or suffering. While it can describe personal misfortunes, it is more commonly reserved for public or collective crises.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghExamples
This disaster this time is really serious.
Do you know how this disaster happened?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe minor inconveniences or personal bad luck, as it sounds overly hyperbolic. For small problems, use 麻煩 or 慘事 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
