懂中文 Dong Chinese

災

zāi

calamity

Depicts a fire (火) and a flood (𡿧).

Components
𡿧 sound,iconic component

𡿧  Sound Iconic component

zāi

  

flood

火 iconic component

火  Iconic component

huǒ

  

fire

Evolution

災 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
災 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
災 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
災 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

灾 (災) 

zāi

calamity, disaster, catastrophe; disaster; calamity

Most common words with 災
Freq.
Word
Meaning

灾难

disaster

火灾

fire (that burns buildings etc)

灾

disaster

灾害

calamity

救灾

to relieve disaster