危害

• Pinyin: wēi hài
• Hanzi breakdown: 危 = 厃 (cliff) + 己 (self, kneeling person) — a person on a cliff, symbolising danger; 害 = 宀 (roof) + 丰 + 口 — harm within

Meaning

To harm; to endanger; harm or damage. Describes causing serious negative effects.

A formal word used for serious or systematic harm, often to health, the environment, or society. Distinguished from 伤害 (which can be personal or emotional) — 危害 typically involves broader, more systematic damage.

Examples

1. 吸烟严重危害身体健康。 Smoking seriously harms your health.
2. 环境污染对人类的危害越来越大。 Environmental pollution is causing increasing harm to humanity.
3. 我们要了解这种疾病的危害。 We need to understand the dangers of this disease.

Usage Guide

Context: health, environment, law

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 酒精对肝脏有很大的危害。(Alcohol causes great harm to the liver.)
• 这种行为危害社会安全。(This kind of behaviour endangers social safety.)

Don't Say

• 他危害了我的感情。(For emotional hurt, use 伤害 instead. 危害 is for broader, more serious harm to health, safety, or society.)

Origin & History

危 means 'danger' and 害 means 'harm'. Together they describe the infliction of dangerous harm.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal