Japanese word

害

Pronunciation

Romajigai

Meaning

  • nounharm

Example

食べすぎは体に害を与えます。ta be su gi wa karada ni gai o ata e ma su

Eating too much harms the body.

Illustration for 害 (harm)

More examples

環境への害を減らす努力が必要です。kan kyō e no gai o he ra su do ryoku ga hitsu yō de su

Efforts to reduce harm to the environment are necessary.

Core concept

Captures the damaging result that something causes to a person, body, object, or situation.

Common phrases

  • 害を与えるgai o ata e ru

    cause harm

  • 害を受けるgai o u ke ru

    suffer harm

  • 害を及ぼすgai o oyo bo su

    do harm

Similar words

被害higai: Damage or loss suffered by a person, group, or place because of an outside cause.
損害songai: A measurable loss or damage, especially to property, business, or finances.
悪影響akueikyō: A negative effect that makes a person, thing, or situation worse.

Definition in Japanese

人や物事の状態を損なう悪い作用。hito ya mono goto no jō tai o soko na u waru i sa yō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 害 (gai, "harm") uses the Chinese-derived character 害, whose basic sense is injury or damage.

Usage tips

  • The noun 害 (gai) has a formal tone in Japanese and is more common in written explanations and set phrases than in casual standalone conversation.

Other meanings

  • damagenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word