469　misfortune，disaster，calamity，catastrophe和mishap

① misfortune不幸，一般用语。

② disaster灾难，一般用语，指突然降临，其严重后果大于 misfortune，天灾人祸各种因素都可导致。

③ calamity正式用语，后果严重，常指天灾，自然灾害。

④ catastrophe语气强，指大祸，灾变，悲剧等，可以是自然因素，也可以是人为因素所致。

⑤ mishap小小的不幸，语气轻。

Years before，her house was burnt down but that was a calamity they could make up for. This time the death of her husband，followed by her only son，in the same road accident，was a real catastrophe. And it was not a mishap but a disaster to the company who depended so much on the man's specialized technological knowledge. Considering her experience，one is reminded of the saying “Misfortunes never come alone.” 几年前她家房子被焚毁，不过那场天灾他们可以弥补。这次她丈夫和独生子相继死于同一场车祸，确实是场大灾难。而且，对于如此依赖此人专业技术知识的公司来讲，也不是小小的不幸，而是灾祸。想到她的经历，人们不禁想起“祸不单行”这句老话。