害

• Pinyin: hài
• Hanzi breakdown: 害 = 宀 (roof) + 丰 (abundant) + 口 (mouth) — harm under a roof

Meaning

Harm; to harm; to cause. Damage or injury to someone or something, or to cause someone to experience something negative.

As a noun, means harm or disaster. As a verb, means to harm or to cause. Common compounds include 害怕 (afraid), 害羞 (shy), 伤害 (injure), 害处 (harmful aspect). Also used colloquially to blame: 都是你害的 (it's all your fault).

Examples

1. 吸烟对身体有很大的害处。 Smoking causes great harm to the body.
2. 他的粗心害得我们输掉了比赛。 His carelessness caused us to lose the match.
3. 这种药对人体没有任何害处。 This medicine has no harmful effects on the human body.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, health, blame

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 这样做对你没有害处。(Doing this won't harm you.)
• 都是你害的！(It's all because of you!)

Don't Say

• 说'害你一个礼物'表示给礼物 (Don't use 害 for giving something positive — 害 implies causing negative outcomes; use 送 or 给 for gifts)

Origin & History

Ancient pictograph showing a weapon or harmful implement under a roof, suggesting harm occurring within.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal