弊害

• Reading: へいがい
• Romaji: heigai
• Kanji breakdown: 弊 (hei) — harm, abuse, ill; 害 (gai) — damage, harm, injury
• Pronunciation: /he.i.ɡa.i/

Meaning

Harmful effect; adverse consequence; evil; abuse. Refers to the ill effects or damage caused by something, especially policies, customs, or systems.

Often used as 弊害をもたらす (to bring about ill effects) or 弊害が生じる (harmful effects arise). Typically applied to institutional, social, or systemic problems rather than personal wrongdoing. Carries a formal, analytical register common in journalism and policy discourse.

Examples

1. 規制緩和が予期せぬ弊害をもたらしたことは否定できない。 It cannot be denied that deregulation brought about unforeseen harmful effects.
2. 長時間労働の弊害は、社員の心身の健康に深刻な影響を及ぼしている。 The adverse effects of long working hours are having a serious impact on employees' physical and mental health.
3. この慣行の弊害を長年無視してきたことが、今日の問題につながった。 The long-standing failure to address the harmful effects of this practice is what has led to today's problems.

Usage Guide

Context: journalism, policy, social commentary

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 弊 (hei, harm, abuse, ill) and 害 (gai, damage, injury). Both characters carry negative connotations of damage, making the compound doubly emphatic about harmful outcomes.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated