<p>The proper translation is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_hazards" rel="nofollow"><strong>geologic hazards</strong></a>. It is used to refer to any disaster that result from either human land use or natural <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category%3aGeological_processes" rel="nofollow">geological processes</a>. Consequently, it is quite a large and, yes, unspecific, group of disasters.</p>

<p>In China, generally speaking it refers to one of the following:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockfall" rel="nofollow">Rockfalls</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudslide" rel="nofollow">Mudslides</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landslide" rel="nofollow">Landslides</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidence" rel="nofollow">Ground subsidences</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole" rel="nofollow">Sinkholes</a></li>
<li>Earth fissures</li>
</ul>

<p>Technically geologic hazards can actually refer to many other phenomenons, but these are the ones usually meant when warnings and reports on <code>地灾</code> are issued. As you can obviously see, these specific disasters revolve around a similar theme. They are especially likely to happen after heavy rain. And so they often get referred to collectively as <code>地质灾害</code> in the press.</p>

<p>If the risk is actually a volcanic eruption, the press would probably spell out <code>火山爆发</code> instead of being vague by warning of <code>地灾</code>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-08T15:07:13.683Z
I just assumed being vague was in order to prevent mass panic.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-08T13:15:22.473Z
2014-07-08T13:22:04.893Z
2014-07-08T13:22:04.893Z
Semaphore
<p>It is very common seeing shortened and generalized terms in PRC.</p>

<p>地震、泥石流、地面塌陷、火山爆发 ... --(generalize)--> 地质灾害 --(shorten)--> 地灾</p>

<p>Making things unspecified is some kind of trend, even in daily context.  For example, people write "建議" instead of 提醒/主張/敦促/呼籲/規勸/勸告/忠告/勸諭/勸阻/警告/告誡/....  and "選擇" instead of 惟有/不如/只好/寧願/寧可/情願/甘願/決意/被迫/故意/....  The more unspecified the harder it is to criticize or make judgements.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-09T03:26:12.400Z
Sounds very diplomatic
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-09T10:25:20.387Z
Yup, another classical example is "rule of law" and "rule by law" .... both translated as "法治".
Henry HO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-09T02:26:30.207Z
2014-07-09T02:26:30.207Z
Henry HO
<p>We're getting 地灾 warnings over here...but what is a 地灾?</p>

<p>Apparently it's short for 地质灾害...</p>

<p><strong>adsotrans</strong> dictionary defines it, word-for-word, as a geological disaster; which is pretty meaningless because who has ever even heard of a geological disaster?</p>

<p><strong>规范</strong> writes:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>地震、泥石流、地面塌陷、火山爆发等</p>
</blockquote>

<p>but I mean, that is super broad and doesn't really tell me much - either there's gonna be an earthquake or a volcano is about to erupt...</p>

<p>Is there a proper translation for 地灾? (natural disaster? perhaps?) </p>

<p>and is it really that un-specific?</p>

<translation><meaning>
Translation: 地灾
# Translation: 地灾

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-08)

We're getting 地灾 warnings over here...but what is a 地灾?

Apparently it's short for 地质灾害...

**adsotrans** dictionary defines it, word-for-word, as a geological disaster; which is pretty meaningless because who has ever even heard of a geological disaster?

**规范** writes:

> 地震、泥石流、地面塌陷、火山爆发等

but I mean, that is super broad and doesn't really tell me much - either there's gonna be an earthquake or a volcano is about to erupt...

Is there a proper translation for 地灾? (natural disaster? perhaps?)

and is it really that un-specific?

**Tags:** translation, meaning


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-08. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The proper translation is [**geologic hazards**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_hazards). It is used to refer to any disaster that result from either human land use or natural [geological processes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category%3aGeological_processes). Consequently, it is quite a large and, yes, unspecific, group of disasters.

In China, generally speaking it refers to one of the following:

* [Rockfalls](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockfall)
* [Mudslides](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudslide)
* [Landslides](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landslide)
* [Ground subsidences](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidence)
* [Sinkholes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole)
* Earth fissures

Technically geologic hazards can actually refer to many other phenomenons, but these are the ones usually meant when warnings and reports on `地灾` are issued. As you can obviously see, these specific disasters revolve around a similar theme. They are especially likely to happen after heavy rain. And so they often get referred to collectively as `地质灾害` in the press.

If the risk is actually a volcanic eruption, the press would probably spell out `火山爆发` instead of being vague by warning of `地灾`.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I just assumed being vague was in order to prevent mass panic.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-09. Score: 1

It is very common seeing shortened and generalized terms in PRC.

地震、泥石流、地面塌陷、火山爆发 ... --(generalize)--> 地质灾害 --(shorten)--> 地灾

Making things unspecified is some kind of trend, even in daily context. For example, people write "建議" instead of 提醒/主張/敦促/呼籲/規勸/勸告/忠告/勸諭/勸阻/警告/告誡/.... and "選擇" instead of 惟有/不如/只好/寧願/寧可/情願/甘願/決意/被迫/故意/.... The more unspecified the harder it is to criticize or make judgements.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Sounds very diplomatic  
> **username_2**: Yup, another classical example is "rule of law" and "rule by law" .... both translated as "法治".  

---

