祸

旤/禍
huò
呙 + 礻

Definitions

huò (noun) disaster; misfortune; calamity

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 呙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 禍.

Semantic: 礻 Phonetic: 呙

About

祸 (traditional 禍) is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic component 礻 (depicting a ceremonial altar or spiritual matters) with the phonetic component 呙, a simplification of 咼. The spiritual radical reflects an early worldview in which disasters and misfortunes were perceived as punishments or malevolent acts from spirits, gods, or ancestors. In meaning, it denotes severe adversity, ruin, or tragic events that cause great suffering and damage. It serves as the antonym of blessings and good fortune, representing human suffering stemming from natural catastrophes, accidents, or human-made destruction.

Example Sentences Hide

车祸很可怕。

Chēhuò hěn kěpà.

Car accidents are terrible.

他避免了一场大祸。

Tā bìmiǎnle yī chǎng dà huò.

He avoided a major disaster.

这场祸事造成了很多损失。

Zhè chǎng huòshì zàochéngle hěnduō sǔnshī.

This disaster caused a lot of loss.

如果不小心，就会惹祸。

Rúguǒ bù xiǎoxīn, jiù huì rě huò.

If you are not careful, you will cause trouble.

这次事故的祸首是驾驶员。

Zhè cì shìgù de huòshǒu shì jiàshǐyuán.

The chief culprit of this accident is the driver.

政府正在采取措施防止祸患发生。

Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài cǎiqǔ cuòshī fángzhǐ huòhuàn fāshēng.

The government is taking measures to prevent disasters from occurring.

尽管他试图掩盖，但祸事还是被公开了。

Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú yǎngài, dàn huòshì háishì bèi gōngkāi le.

Although he tried to cover it up, the disaster was still made public.

若是早听劝告，何至于今日酿成如此大祸？

Ruò shì zǎo tīng quàngào, hé zhìyú jīnrì niàngchéng rúcǐ dà huò?

If you had listened to the advice earlier, how could it have led to such a great disaster today?

Related Characters

Component: 呙

窝 锅 涡 蜗 娲 剐 莴 埚 脶 㖞 䯄

Component: 礻

神 社 视 福 礼 祖 祝 祥 禧 禅 禄 祈 祷 祀

Example Words

车祸 人祸 大祸 幸灾乐祸 惹祸 灾祸 祸不单行 祸害 祸根 祸水 祸福 罪魁祸首 闯祸 因祸得福 天灾人祸 奇祸 嫁祸 嫁祸于人 战祸 横祸 杀身之祸 祸乱 祸事 祸及