Kanji: 禍 (Ka) - Calamity & Misfortune
The Japanese kanji 禍 (ka) means "calamity," "misfortune," or "disaster." It refers to unexpected tragedy or evil that brings negative consequences. The character combines 示 (altar) suggesting divine matters, and 咼 (crooked mouth) implying distortion or wrongness.
Stroke Order & Writing:
Begin with left radical ⺭(示 altar): dot, horizontal, vertical hook, then two dots
Write right component 咼: start with the outer frame, then inner "冎" following standard stroke order
Common Vocabulary & Usage:
災禍 (saika): Calamity, disaster
"自然災禍に備える" (Prepare for natural disasters)戦禍 (senka): War damage
"戦禍を免れた町" (A town spared from war damage)禍々しい (magamagashii): Ominous, sinister
"禍々しい予感がする" (I have an ominous premonition)
This kanji is essential for understanding expressions related to misfortune and tragedy, particularly in formal contexts discussing disasters or negative events.