有害

• Pinyin: yǒu hài
• Hanzi breakdown: 有 = 手 + 月, to have; 害 = 宀 + 丰 + 口, harm/damage

Meaning

Harmful; detrimental. Having a negative effect on health, well-being, or other things.

Broader than 有毒, covering any type of harm including physical, psychological, or social. Often used in formal contexts like health warnings and regulations. Common patterns: 有害物质 (harmful substances), 有害健康 (harmful to health), 对...有害 (harmful to...).

Examples

1. 吸烟有害健康，这是众所周知的事实。 Smoking is harmful to health — this is a well-known fact.
2. 过度使用手机可能对视力有害。 Excessive phone use may be harmful to eyesight.
3. 某些食品添加剂被证明对人体有害。 Certain food additives have been proven harmful to the human body.

Usage Guide

Context: health, environment, warnings

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 这对环境有害。(This is harmful to the environment.)
• 有害物质不能随意丢弃。(Harmful substances cannot be disposed of carelessly.)

Don't Say

• 有害的人 (Sounds unnatural — for harmful people, use 危险的人 or 有害无益的人)

Origin & History

Verb-object compound of 有 (to have) and 害 (harm). Parallel construction to 有益 (beneficial).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal