Japanese word

遭難

Pronunciation

Romajisōnan

Meaning

  • noundisaster

Example

山で遭難した人を助けます。yama de sō nan shi ta hito o tasu ke ma su

We help people stranded in the mountains.

Illustration for 遭難 (disaster)

More examples

救助隊は海上の遭難現場に向かいました。kyū jo tai wa kai jō no sō nan gen ba ni mu ka i ma shi ta

The rescue team headed to the scene of the maritime disaster.

Core concept

Centers on encountering danger and being unable to escape or continue without help.

Common phrases

  • 遭難信号sō nan shin gō

    distress signal

  • 遭難の原因sō nan no gen in

    cause of the disaster

  • 遭難の知らせsō nan no shi ra se

    news of the disaster

Similar words

災害saigai: A serious event that causes widespread damage or harm to people, property, or the environment.
災難sainan: A harmful event that brings serious trouble or loss to a person or group.

Definition in Japanese

事故や災害に遭って、危険な場所で身動きが取れず、救助を必要とすること。ji ko ya sai gai ni a tte ki ken na ba sho de mi ugo ki ga to re zu kyū jo o hitsu yō to su ru ko to

Word origin

遭難 (sōnan) combines 遭 (sō, "to encounter") and 難 (nan, "difficulty or disaster"), describing an encounter with danger that requires rescue.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 遭難 (sōnan) for people stranded in the mountains and for vessels in trouble at sea, while 災害 (saigai) refers more broadly to disasters affecting communities.

Other meanings

  • accidentnoun
  • distressnoun
  • shipwrecknoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 遭難者sōnanshadisaster victimnoun

Word lists with this word