DISASTER 災禍
EVENT that CAUSES HUMANS to BECOME INTENSELY SAD OR to GRIEF:grieve.
Old Chinese Criteria
黄金貴:古漢語同義詞辨釋詞典
Modern Chinese Criteria
Hyponym
- INAUSPICIOUS CAUSING one to EXPECT DISASTER. (anc: 10/0, child: 0)
- UNFORTUNATELY CONTINGENT DISASTER. (anc: 10/0, child: 0)
- SHIPWRECK DISASTER OF A SHIP SINKING (anc: 10/0, child: 0)
Antonym
See also
- INAUSPICIOUSCAUSING one to EXPECT DISASTER.
- LOGICAL ACCIDENTSomething ABSTRACT which is a FEATURE of a THING BUT NOT a NECESSARY FEATURE.
Hypernym
DISASTER
damnum refers to a disaster one has brought upon oneself.
detrimentum is a disaster one suffers without having caused it.
iactura is a voluntary loss of someting which one chooses to suffer in order to avoid greater evils.
MISFORTUNE
infortunium refers to a single misfortune as a vexatious, typically minor accident.
calamitas refers to a single tragic major incident.
infelicitas refers to a lasting state of misery, typically as the result of a lack of success.
miseria refers to a lasting state of very serious affliction of any kind.
KATASTROPHEN
calamitas 'disaster, ruin' [f. /] (P1.+)
Derivatives: calamitosus 'liable to damage or disaster' (Cato+); incolumis [adj.]
'unharmed, safe' (P1.+).
FATAL.FUNESTE
Words (57 items)
禍 huò OC: ɡloolʔ MC: ɦʷɑ 83 Attributions
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.)
- Word relations
- Ant: 吉/AUSPICIOUS
The general term is jí 吉 (ant. xiōng 凶 "inauspicious") and refers to any natural phenomenon or supposed supernatural response that is of good omen, in an everyday almost secular way. - Ant: 賞/REWARD
The current general word for rewarding is shǎng 賞 (ant. fá 罰 "punish" and zhū 誅 "punish"). - Ant: 福/HAPPY
- Ant: 福/LUCK
The dominant general word for good fortune is fú 福 (ant. huò 禍 "misfortune"), and the dominant general word for good luck is xìng 幸 (ant. yāng 殃 "misfortune"). - Epithet: 凶/DISASTER
Xiōng 凶, shěng 眚 and jiù 咎 are archaic metaphysical terms for misfortunes. - Contrast: 咎/DISASTER
- Contrast: 罪/GUILT
- Contrast: 變/DISASTER
- Assoc: 患/DISASTER
Huàn 患 refers to any major or minor disaster, even down to minor irritations. - Assoc: 災 / 菑/DISASTER
Zāi 災 refers to a natural disaster, typically sent down by Heaven. - Assoc: 凶/DISASTER
Xiōng 凶, shěng 眚 and jiù 咎 are archaic metaphysical terms for misfortunes. - Assoc: 凶/DISASTER
Xiōng 凶, shěng 眚 and jiù 咎 are archaic metaphysical terms for misfortunes. - Assoc: 害/DISASTER
Hài 害 refers generally to harm, but in OBI the word standardly refers to harm done by supernatural powers or ancestors. - Assoc: 敗/DEFEAT
The current general word for defeating someoneor some state in any form of battle is bài 敗. - Assoc: 祟/DISASTER
- Assoc: 難/DISASTER
Nàn 難 refer to man-made disasters of every kind. - Assoc: 殃 / 央/DISASTER
Yāng 殃 always refers to major natural disasters, often construed as causes by human misdemeanour, or by a failure to take preventive action. - Synon: 殃 / 央/DISASTER
Yāng 殃 always refers to major natural disasters, often construed as causes by human misdemeanour, or by a failure to take preventive action. - Synon: 難/DISASTER
Nàn 難 refer to man-made disasters of every kind.
- Syntactic words
- nabeventdisaster; disastrous fate, unhappy outcome; bad luck; sad fate
- nabeventOBI 5: ominous sign, ominous event or phenomenon imbued with some disastrous supernatural significance
- nabstativedisastrous situation
- vadNdisastrous 禍事上門"disaster hits the family"
- vispell disaster
- vi0eventthere is disaster, there will be disaster
- vtoNOBI: bring disaster upon
- vtoNputativeregard as a disaster; recognise as disastrous
凶 xiōng OC: qhoŋ MC: hi̯oŋ 65 Attributions
Xiōng 凶, shěng 眚 and jiù 咎 are archaic metaphysical terms for misfortunes.
- Word relations
- Ant: 利/PROFIT
Lì 利 (1. ant. yì 義 "considerations of rectitude"(!!); 2. ant. hài 害 "damage and loss suffered") refers to material profit. - Epithet: 年/HARVEST
The general old and current word for a harvest, particularly a good harvest is nián 年. - Epithet: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.) - Assoc: 患/DISASTER
Huàn 患 refers to any major or minor disaster, even down to minor irritations. - Assoc: 咎/DISASTER
- Assoc: 害/DISASTER
Hài 害 refers generally to harm, but in OBI the word standardly refers to harm done by supernatural powers or ancestors. - Assoc: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.) - Assoc: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.)
- Syntactic words
- nab.post-V{NUM}eventterrible supernaturally ordained disaster; great bad luck; major misfortune; dire consequences 百凶
- nabconceptdisastrousness, poverty (ofharvest); disastrous outcomes
- vadNcalamitious, disastrous (also of harvests in certain years) 凶年
- vi0there is/will be (supernaturally ordained) disaster
- visubject=humanbe unlucky; meet disaster
- visubject=nonhumanturn out disastrously disadvantageous
- vt+prep+Nbring disaster to
患 huàn OC: ɢroons MC: ɦɣan 63 Attributions
Huàn 患 refers to any major or minor disaster, even down to minor irritations.
- Word relations
- Conv: 備/DEFEND
Bèi 備 is to make defensive arrangements. - Ant: 利/PROFIT
Lì 利 (1. ant. yì 義 "considerations of rectitude"(!!); 2. ant. hài 害 "damage and loss suffered") refers to material profit. - Object: 困/DISTRESS
The most representative current general word for distress is probably kùn 困 (ant. ān 安 "be in a good state"), although the group of words discussed here is selected on singularly problematic grounds. - Contrast: 變/DISASTER
- Assoc: 凶/DISASTER
Xiōng 凶, shěng 眚 and jiù 咎 are archaic metaphysical terms for misfortunes. - Assoc: 害/DISASTER
Hài 害 refers generally to harm, but in OBI the word standardly refers to harm done by supernatural powers or ancestors. - Assoc: 災 / 菑/DISASTER
Zāi 災 refers to a natural disaster, typically sent down by Heaven. - Assoc: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.)
- Syntactic words
- nab.post-V{NUM}troubles
- nabeventdisaster, misfortune; adversities; resulting trouble (from one's actions) 三患"three kinds of disaster"
- npost-Nthe disaster constituted by N
- npost-Nthe disaster caused by NLZ
- v[adN]the afflicted, the distressed
- vieventbe faced with disaster
- vtoNcausativebring on a disaster
- vttoN1.+prep+N2present (someone N1) as a disaster to (someone N2) 患x於y
殃 yāng OC: qaŋ MC: ʔi̯ɐŋ
央 yāng OC: qaŋ MC: ʔi̯ɐŋ 35 Attributions
Yāng 殃 always refers to major natural disasters, often construed as causes by human misdemeanour, or by a failure to take preventive action.
- Word relations
- Epithet: 天/GOD
Tiān 天 refers to the - often personified or semi-personified - God of Heaven. - Assoc: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.)
- Syntactic words
- nab.post-NN=subjectdisaster sent by NDS
- nabeventmajor disaster; hardship; misfortune; calamity
- nabpost-Ndisaster for NLZ
- nab{PRED}(that) spells disasterCH
- vibe in the danger of meeting a major disaster; suffer a major disaster
災 zāi OC: tsɯɯ MC: tsəi
菑 zī OC: tsrɯ MC: ʈʂɨ 34 Attributions
Zāi 災 refers to a natural disaster, typically sent down by Heaven.
- Word relations
- Ant: 善/GOOD
The general term for positive appraisal of any kind in Chinese is shàn 善 (ant. è 惡 "bad"). - Epithet: 凶/INAUSPICIOUS
The current general word for what is of no good omen is xiōng 凶 (ant. jí 吉). - Assoc: 害/DAMAGE
By far the commonest general word for damage is hài 害 (ant. lì 利"benefit").
- Syntactic words
- nabautonym"calamity"
- nabeventOBI 5: calamity; disaster (from Heaven/Nature; occasionally self-inflicted as in CC 9.1); the reference is sometimes to a fire
- nabfigurativea menace (to others)
- nadNconstituting a plague for
- v[adN]N=humperson suffering calamity
- vispell disaster (XUN)LZ
- vi0there was a disaster (at a place); there was a disaster in the form of a fire
- vtoNbe a plague for
- vtoNmiddle voicebe struck by disaster
難 nàn OC: mɢlaans MC: nɑn 30 Attributions
Nàn 難 refer to man-made disasters of every kind.
- Word relations
- Contrast: 亂/REVOLT
Luàn 亂 (ant. zhì 治 "regularly political government") refers to a major political upheaval designed to topple the reigning government. - Assoc: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.) - Synon: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.)
- Syntactic words
- nab.post-Neventtrouble from the part of N
- nab.post-V{NUM}disasters
- nabeventtrouble, problem, difficulties (from the part of the other feudal lords); the difficult point; disastrous consequences [often difficult to distinguish from DIFFICULT]
- vipose difficulties, prove problematic; prove disadvantageous; be in trouble, be in dusastrous difficulty
- vi0there is disaster, there is political trouble; there will be political difficulties; things will be difficult
- vtoNputativeregard as particularly troublesome, regard as very worrying
咎 jiù OC: ɡlɯwʔ MC: gɨu 26 Attributions
- Word relations
- Ant: 福/LUCK
The dominant general word for good fortune is fú 福 (ant. huò 禍 "misfortune"), and the dominant general word for good luck is xìng 幸 (ant. yāng 殃 "misfortune"). - Contrast: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.) - Assoc: 凶/DISASTER
Xiōng 凶, shěng 眚 and jiù 咎 are archaic metaphysical terms for misfortunes.
- 古代文化詞異集類辨考 Gudai wenhua ci yi ji lei bian kao
(
HUANG JINGUI 1995)
p.
23
- Syntactic words
- nab.post-NN=subjectdisaster caused by NDS
- nabevent(deserved) bad fortune; (deserved) disaster; (deserved) calamity
- vimiddle voicesuffer disaster, suffer bad fortune
病 bìng OC: bɢraŋs MC: bɣaŋ 16 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- n[adN]nonreferentialthose who are in distress
- nabstativestate of distress; trouble; mental trauma
- vigradedget into trouble; suffer disaster
- vt+prep+Nbring disaster to
孽 niè OC: ŋred MC: ŋiɛt 14 Attributions
Niè 孽 often has heavy metaphysical connotations and refers to disasters as caused by higher powers acting with an intention to harm, but there are some clear cases where the word refers to man-made trouble in MENG.
- Word relations
- Assoc: 妖 / 祅/INAUSPICIOUS
Yāo 妖/祅 refers to concrete inauspicious events like animal misfosters.
- Syntactic words
- nabeventcurse, supernatural disaster MENG 4A8: generally disaster
急 jí OC: krɯb MC: kip 8 Attributions
Jí 急 is a disastrous or highly precarious situation that has occurred suddenly and requires urgent attention.
- Syntactic words
- nabeventurgent trouble, crisis
- v[adN]nonreferentialthose who are in urgent trouble
- vadNin urgent trouble; desperate (age)
- vithere is acute, urgent trouble
變 biàn OC: prons MC: piɛn 7 Attributions
- Word relations
- Ant: 瑞/AUSPICIOUS
The archaising and elevated, mostly nominal, ruì 瑞 has specific religious connotations with rituals and the Will of Heaven. - Contrast: 患/DISASTER
Huàn 患 refers to any major or minor disaster, even down to minor irritations. - Contrast: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.) - Assoc: 災 / 菑/DISASTER
Zāi 災 refers to a natural disaster, typically sent down by Heaven.
- Syntactic words
- nabeventemergency; unfortunate unruly turn of events; highly unusual event 心傷國變; HANSHU: 有日蝕地震之變 There were extraordinary events likesolar eclipses and earthquakes.
故 gù OC: kaas MC: kuo̝ 7 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- nabeventincident; disastrous altercations; irregular occurrences
- viinvolve serious ritual irregularities
不虞 bù yú OC: pɯʔ ŋʷa MC: pi̯ut ŋi̯o 6 Attributions
Bù yú 不虞 is normally a minor disaster that was utterly unexpected.
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventunexpected misfortunes; emergency
為祟 wéi suì MC: hjweH swijH OC: ɢʷal sqluds 4 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- VPiin divination: bode ill; mean disaster; bring bad fortune; have a supernaturally disastrous influenceCH
患難 huàn nàn OC: ɢroons mɢlaans MC: ɦɣan nɑn 4 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventa disaster of any kind
祟 suì OC: sqluds MC: si 4 Attributions
- Word relations
- Assoc: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.)
- Syntactic words
- nabeventdisaster; calamities
- vt(oN)putativeconsider N as calamitous, spooky, of ill omen, ominousCH
苦厄 kǔ è OC: khaaʔ qreeɡ MC: khuo̝ ʔɣɛk 3 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabstativedesperate hardship; disastrous situation
災害 zāi hài OC: tsɯɯ ɡaads MC: tsəi ɦɑi 3 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventserious disaster of any kind
禍亂 huò luàn MC: -- lwanH OC: ɡloolʔ ɡ-roons 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabdisastrous upheaval of all kindsLZ
水火 shuǐ huǒ OC: qhjulʔ qphaalʔ MC: ɕi hʷɑ 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NP{N1&N2}nonreferentialflood and fire; natural disaster in general; also figurative:social disaster
禍災 huò zāi OC: ɡloolʔ tsɯɯ MC: ɦʷɑ tsəi 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPnonreferentialdisasters of all kinds
無祿 wú lù OC: ma b-rooɡ MC: mi̯o luk 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- VPibe in dire straights; be in deep trouble
患禍 huàn huò OC: ɢroons ɡloolʔ MC: ɦɣan ɦʷɑ 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventdisaster
禍難 huò nàn OC: ɡloolʔ mɢlaans MC: ɦʷɑ nɑn 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventdisasters or misfortunes of any kind; a practical (possibly disastrous) problem
凶敗 xiōng bài MC: xjowng baejH OC: qhoŋ braads 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- VPibe stricken by crop failureLZ
厄 è OC: qreeɡ MC: ʔɣɛk 2 Attributions
È 厄 refers to personal disaster concerning one individual only.
- Syntactic words
- nabeventdisaster (typically ordained by fate), tragic fate
- nadNdisastrous
災患 zāi huàn OC: tsɯɯ ɢroons MC: tsəi ɦɣan
菑患 zī huàn OC: tsrɯ ɢroons MC: ʈʂɨ ɦɣan 2 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventdisaster, calamity
- NPabeventdisasters of all kinds, disaster of any kind
舛 chuǎn MC: tsyhwenX OC: thjonʔ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- vieventsuffer misfortune (see HYDZD!)CH
處 chǔ MC: tsyhoX OC: khljaʔ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- nabstativetrouble, difficultyCS
禍凶 huò xiōng MC: -- xjowng OC: ɡloolʔ qhoŋ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPabdisaster; catastrophe DS
誤 wù OC: ŋʷaas MC: ŋuo̝ 1 Attribution
- Word relations
- Assoc: 謬 / 繆/MISTAKE
Miù 謬 (ant. zhèng 正 "correct") typically refers to an intellectual misapprehension because of complete baselessness of what is being said.
- Syntactic words
- vtoNcausativecause things to go wrong
禍喪 huò sāng OC: ɡloolʔ smaaŋ MC: ɦʷɑ sɑŋ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPsubject=nonrefthose struck by any kind of disaster or bereavement
禍患 huò huàn OC: ɡloolʔ ɢroons MC: ɦʷɑ ɦɣan 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NP{N1=N2}pluraldisastrous misfortunes of any kind
咎映 jiù yìng OC: ɡlɯwʔ qraŋs MC: gɨu ʔɣaŋ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPabevent(deserved) disasters (of all kinds???)
三惡道 sān è dào OC: saam qaaɡ ɡ-luuʔ MC: sɑm ʔɑk dɑu 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPabmetaphysicalBUDDH: three disasters in future life: being reborn as an animal, as a hungry, and going to hell. Compare 三途
不意 bù yì OC: pɯʔ qɯɡs MC: pi̯ut ʔɨ 1 Attribution
unpredictable, something that one has not thought about
- Syntactic words
- NPabfeaturesomeonething unpredicted, a disaster that one has not thought about
墜 zhuì OC: ɡrluds MC: ɖi 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- n[FALLING DOWN>] disaster
殃咎 yāng jiù OC: qaŋ ɡlɯwʔ MC: ʔi̯ɐŋ gɨu 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventdisasters of any kind; disasters of all kinds
害 hài OC: ɡaads MC: ɦɑi 1 Attribution
Hài 害 refers generally to harm, but in OBI the word standardly refers to harm done by supernatural powers or ancestors.
- Word relations
- Object: 遇/ENCOUNTER
Yù 遇 refers to having been exposed to something (often something positive) by coincidence. - Assoc: 凶/DISASTER
Xiōng 凶, shěng 眚 and jiù 咎 are archaic metaphysical terms for misfortunes. - Assoc: 患/DISASTER
Huàn 患 refers to any major or minor disaster, even down to minor irritations. - Assoc: 災 / 菑/DISASTER
Zāi 災 refers to a natural disaster, typically sent down by Heaven. - Assoc: 禍/DISASTER
The most common general word for disasters is huò 禍 (ant. fú 福 "good fortune") which has no connotations of any metaphysical kind. (In OBI the character currently transcribed as huò 禍 - and closely related to 占 - refers not only to disasters as such, but particularly to disastrous omens.)
- Syntactic words
- nabeventharmful event
- vt(oN)putativeregard the contextually determinate N as (potential) disaster, regard as threat
凶災 xiōng zāi OC: qhoŋ tsɯɯ MC: hi̯oŋ tsəi 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPab{nab1=nab2}nonreferentialdisasters of all kinds; disasters
惡 è OC: qaaɡ MC: ʔɑk 1 Attribution
- Word relations
- Assoc: 凶/INAUSPICIOUS
The current general word for what is of no good omen is xiōng 凶 (ant. jí 吉).
- Syntactic words
- nabeventevents that are bad for one; disasters
衰患 shuāi huàn OC: srul ɢroons MC: ʂi ɦɣan 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventdecline and disaster
氣厲 qì lì MC: khj+jH ljejH OC: khɯds b-rads 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPmalicious influenceDS
災咎 zāi jiù OC: tsɯɯ ɡlɯwʔ MC: tsəi gɨu 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- NPabevent(deserved) calamities (of all kinds??)
厄地 è dì OC: qreeɡ lils MC: ʔɣɛk di 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- nabeventdisaster
枯旱 kū hàn MC: khu hanX OC: khaa ɡaanʔ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- VPi0there was drought DS
瘨 diān OC: tiin MC: ten 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- vtoNinflict suffering upon
眚 shěng OC: sraaŋʔ MC: ʂɣaŋ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- ndisaster
罹 lí OC: rel MC: liɛ 1 Attribution
- Syntactic words
- nab.post-V{NUM}eventmishaps
蠱 gǔ OC: kaaʔ MC: kuo̝ 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- npestiferous thing; evil influence; disaster
賊 zéi OC: sɡɯɯɡ MC: dzək 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- nman-made calamity ?????
沒沒 mò mò OC: mɯɯd mɯɯd MC: muot muot 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabactdisastrous course of action
禍敗 huò bài OC: ɡloolʔ praads MC: ɦʷɑ pɣɛi 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventdisaster or defeat of any kind
天災 tiān zāi OC: lʰiin tsɯɯ MC: then tsəi 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventHeaven-sent disasters
蹭蹬 cèng dèng OC: tshɯɯŋs dɯɯŋs MC: tshəŋ dəŋ 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- VPadNdown on one's lucks, unfortunate, unlucky, exposed to misfortune, meeting with setbacks
殃禍 yāng huò OC: qaŋ ɡloolʔ MC: ʔi̯ɐŋ ɦʷɑ 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- NPabeventdisasters of any kind
罔 wǎng OC: maŋʔ MC: mi̯ɐŋ 0 Attributions
- Syntactic words
- nabeventdisaster