遇难

遇難

yùnàn

verb HSK 7-9 #10,187

Meanings

1 to die in a disaster
2 to perish
3 to be killed (in an accident or calamity)

Characters

encounter; meet

disaster; calamity

Literally 'encounter disaster' — to die in a disaster or accident

Examples

地震中有很多人遇难。

Dìzhèn zhōng yǒu hěnduō rén yùnàn.

Many people perished in the earthquake.

遇难者的家属非常悲痛。

Yùnàn zhě de jiāshǔ fēicháng bēitòng.

The families of the victims are deeply grief-stricken.

飞机失事，机上人员全部遇难。

Fēijī shīshì, jīshàng rényuán quánbù yùnàn.

The plane crashed, and everyone on board perished.

Tips

usage

遇难 is a formal and respectful way to say someone died in a disaster, accident, or attack. It is commonly used in news reports. Note that 难 is pronounced nàn (4th tone) here, not nán.

Stroke Order

遇 yù

难 nán