Japanese · Nature & Environment
地震
jishin
Earthquake
Intermediatenoun
Definition
A sudden shaking of the ground caused by seismic activity. Japan experiences thousands of earthquakes each year due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Example
昨夜地震があって眠れませんでした。
There was an earthquake last night and I could not sleep.
Etymology
The word 地震 (jishin) combines 地 (ji), meaning 'earth', and 震 (shin), meaning 'quake' or 'shake'. It has been part of the language since ancient times, particularly due to Japan's seismic activity.
How & Where It’s Used
地震 is predominantly used in formal contexts, particularly in news reports and scientific discussions, but is also common in everyday conversation. It is universally understood throughout Japan, reflecting the country's experience with earthquakes.