Misfortune
Calamity, Disaster
noun
A disaster that is difficult is particularly difficult, making it more of a misfortune. Obviously a disaster that wasn't difficult wouldn't really be that bad, so a difficult one gets the "misfortune" or calamity label.
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.
私は、運良く海外にいたので、その災難をまぬがれることができました。
Fortunately, I was overseas at the time, so I was able to escape the disaster.
今日学校で、「災難は勇気を試す試金石である。」ということわざを習いました。
Today at school I learned a proverb that goes, "calamity is the touchstone of a brave mind."
どうしてあいつはあんなに災難に見舞われてばかりいるのかな？本当に偶然なのか、それともあいつ自体に何か問題があるんだろうか。
I wonder why misfortune is always following that guy? Is it just by chance or is there something wrong with him?