Preparing for a disaster, getting through it and rebuilding afterwards.
Practise this list
From these 41 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Japan prepares for disasters as part of ordinary life, and these are the words of public notices, school drills and news bulletins. Watch the kanji 被, "to suffer": 被害is damage被災being hit by a disaster被災地the area that was hit Warnings come in steps — an advisory, 注意報, below a warning, 警報 — and knowing which one has been issued tells you whether to get ready or to leave.
The words
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Noun (41)
災害disasterNounN2
災害が起きたときの連絡の方法を家族で決めておこう。Let us agree as a family how we will contact each other if a disaster strikes.
自然災害natural disasterNounN2
日本は自然災害の多い国だ。Japan is a country with many natural disasters.
防災disaster prevention; preparednessNounN2
防災用品を玄関の近くに置いている。I keep emergency supplies near the front door.
備えpreparation; provisionNounN2
日頃の備えが命を守る。Being prepared in everyday life is what saves lives.
The verb is 備える, to prepare for.
備蓄stockpiling; reservesNounN2
学校には水や食料が備蓄されている。Water and food are stockpiled at the school.
Also a verb: 備蓄する.
非常食emergency foodNounN2
年に一度、非常食の賞味期限を確かめている。Once a year I check the best-before dates on our emergency food.
訓練drill; trainingNounN2
会社で避難の訓練が行われた。An evacuation drill was held at work.
Also a verb: 訓練する.
耐震earthquake-resistantNounN2
この建物は耐震工事を終えている。This building has already been strengthened against earthquakes.
Mostly in compounds: 耐震基準, earthquake building standards.
警報warning; alarmNounN2
大雨警報が出たため、学校は休校になった。Because a heavy-rain warning was issued, the school was closed.
One step below it is an advisory, 注意報.
予知prediction; foreknowledgeNounN2
地震を正確に予知するのは難しい。It is difficult to predict earthquakes accurately.
Also a verb: 予知する.
想定assumption; scenario planned forNounN2
想定を超える高さの津波が来た。A tsunami higher than anything that had been planned for arrived.
Also a verb: 想定する. 想定外: beyond what was planned for.
震源focus (of an earthquake)NounN2
震源が浅い地震は、揺れが強くなりやすい。Earthquakes with a shallow focus tend to cause stronger shaking.
The point on the surface directly above it, the epicentre, is 震央; the news usually says 震源地 for the area where a quake started.
余震aftershockNounN2
大きな地震の後、何度も余震があった。After the big earthquake there were many aftershocks.
津波tsunamiNounN2
海の近くで強い揺れを感じたら、津波に備えてすぐに逃げる。If you feel strong shaking near the sea, get away at once in case of a tsunami.
The English word comes from this one.
液状化liquefaction (of the ground)NounN2
地震で埋め立て地が液状化し、家が傾いた。In the earthquake the reclaimed land liquefied and houses tilted.
地盤ground; foundationNounN2
この辺りは地盤が弱いので、揺れやすい。The ground around here is soft, so it shakes easily.
Also a political power base.
土砂崩れlandslideNounN2
土砂崩れのため、山の道路が通行止めになった。Because of a landslide, the mountain road has been closed.
堤防embankment; leveeNounN2
川の堤防が決壊するおそれがある。There is a risk that the river embankment will give way.
浸水flooding (of buildings)NounN2
大雨で、駅の地下が浸水した。The heavy rain flooded the underground part of the station.
Water getting into something; water covering a road or a field is 冠水.
冠水being under water (roads, fields)NounN2
大雨で道路が冠水し、車が通れなくなった。The heavy rain left the road under water and cars could not get through.
火災fire (as a disaster)NounN2
火災が発生した場合は、階段を使って避難してください。In the event of fire, use the stairs to evacuate.
The official word; in speech, 火事.
倒壊collapse (of a building)NounN2
地震で古い家が何軒も倒壊した。Several old houses collapsed in the earthquake.
Also a verb: 倒壊する.
避難evacuation; taking refugeNounN2
市から避難の指示が出た。The city issued an evacuation order.
Also a verb: 避難する. Not 非難, criticism, which sounds the same.
避難所evacuation shelterNounN2
避難所になっている体育館に、毛布が運ばれた。Blankets were taken to the gym that is serving as a shelter.
避難経路evacuation routeNounN2
ホテルに着いたら、まず避難経路を確認する。When I arrive at a hotel, the first thing I do is check the evacuation route.
高台high groundNounN2
津波のおそれがあるときは、高台に逃げてください。When there is a risk of a tsunami, go to high ground.
被害damage; harmNounN2
台風による被害は、予想より小さかった。The damage from the typhoon was less than expected.
被害を受ける: to suffer damage.
被災being hit by a disasterNounN2
地震で被災した人たちに寄付を送った。I sent a donation to people affected by the earthquake.
Also a verb: 被災する.
被災地disaster areaNounN2
週末に被災地でボランティアをした。I volunteered in the disaster area at the weekend.
救助rescueNounN2
閉じ込められていた人が、無事に救助された。The people who had been trapped were rescued safely.
Also a verb: 救助する. Saving people from danger.
救援relief; aidNounN2
各地から救援物資が届いている。Relief supplies are arriving from all over the country.
Help sent to those affected, as opposed to rescuing them.
応急処置first aid; emergency measuresNounN2
救急車が来るまで、応急処置を行った。We gave first aid until the ambulance came.
消防firefighting; fire serviceNounN2
消防車が何台も通り過ぎた。Several fire engines went past.
A fire station is a 消防署.
消火器fire extinguisherNounN2
各階に消火器が置いてある。There is a fire extinguisher on every floor.
遭難getting into difficulty (at sea, in the mountains)NounN2
冬山で遭難した登山者が、三日後に見つかった。A climber who got into difficulty in the mountains in winter was found three days later.
Also a verb: 遭難する.
犠牲者victim (who died)NounN2
震災の犠牲者を追悼する式典が開かれた。A ceremony was held to remember the victims of the earthquake.
負傷者injured personNounN2
事故の負傷者は、近くの病院に運ばれた。Those injured in the accident were taken to a nearby hospital.
安否whether someone is safeNounN2
地震の後、家族の安否を確認した。After the earthquake, I checked whether my family were safe.
Literally safe-or-not; mostly in 安否確認.
緊急emergency; urgentNounN2
緊急の場合は、この番号に電話してください。In an emergency, call this number.
復旧restoration (of services)NounN2
電気は翌日には復旧した。The power was back by the next day.
Of power, water, trains and lines; rebuilding a whole area is 復興.
復興reconstruction; recoveryNounN2
町の復興には長い時間がかかった。Rebuilding the town took a long time.
