Japanese word

悲劇

Pronunciation

Romajihigeki

Meaning

  • nountragedy

Example

その事故は大きな悲劇でした。so no ji ko wa ō ki na hi geki de shi ta

That accident was a great tragedy.

Illustration for 悲劇 (tragedy)

More examples

誰もが、その知らせを新たな悲劇の始まりだと感じました。dare mo ga so no shi ra se o ara ta na hi geki no haji ma ri da to kan ji ma shi ta

Everyone felt that the news marked the beginning of a new tragedy.

Core concept

Centers on a severe loss or downfall that brings deep suffering.

Common phrases

  • 悲劇が起こるhi geki ga o ko ru

    a tragedy occurs

  • 悲劇を防ぐhi geki o fuse gu

    prevent a tragedy

Similar words

惨劇sangeki: A terrible event involving death, destruction, or intense suffering.
惨事sanji: A disastrous event that causes serious damage, loss, or suffering.
災難sainan: A harmful event or situation that brings serious trouble, loss, or suffering.

Definition in Japanese

個人や社会に大きな損失と苦しみをもたらす、非常に不幸な出来事。ko jin ya sha kai ni ō ki na son shitsu to kuru shi mi o mo ta ra su hi jō ni fu kō na de ki goto

Word origin

悲劇 (higeki) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 悲 (hi, "sorrow") and 劇 (geki, "drama").

Usage tips

  • In English, tragedy can describe both a disastrous event and a dramatic work centered on ruin or loss, as in Shakespeare's tragedies.

Opposites

Related words

  • 悲劇的higekitekitragicna-adjective
  • 悲劇性higekiseitragic qualitynoun

Word lists with this word