害 hài injure
injure; to harm
How to remember 害: 宀 house + 丰 abundant + 口 mouth = injure. In the house next door, the abundant gossip pouring from one neighbour's mouth is enough to injure a whole family's good name.
Component breakdown
害 = 𫲸 + 口 mouth
- 𫲸
- 宀 house
- 丰 abundant
- 口 mouth
In the house next door, the abundant gossip pouring from one neighbour's mouth is enough to injure a whole family's good name.
How it came to be
A roof with abundant under it and a mouth at the bottom, and the readings do not agree: a cut into something under cover, or words spoken indoors that do damage.
How it is used
- "To harm" - 伤害 (shānghài) to hurt/injure, 危害 (wēihài) to endanger, 有害 (yǒuhài) harmful (对健康有害 duì jiànkāng yǒuhài bad for your health).
- But the two commonest words are feelings: 害怕 (hàipà) to be afraid, 害羞 (hàixiū) shy/bashful.
- 厉害 (lìhai, neutral tone) means "awesome/formidable" or "severe" - 你太厉害了 (nǐ tài lìhai le) you're amazing; note the reading lì, not hài.
Characters built with 害
Words with 害
- 害怕hàipàafraid ofHSK 3
- 厉害lìhaiterribleHSK 4
- 害羞hài xiūblushHSK 4
- 伤害shānghàito injureHSK 5
- 危害wēihàito harmHSK 5
- 损害sǔnhàiharmHSK 5
- 有害yǒuhàidestructiveHSK 5
- 灾害zāihàicalamityHSK 6
- 利害lìhàipros and consHSK 7
- 受害shòuhàito suffer damage, injury etcHSK 7
- 受害人shòuhàirénvictimHSK 7
- 要害yàohàivital partHSK 7
- 侵害qīnhàito encroach onHSK 8
- 害虫hàichónginjurious insectHSK 8
- 杀害shāhàito murderHSK 9
- 祸害huòhaidisasterHSK 9
- 谋害móuhàito conspire to murderHSK 9
- 迫害pòhàito persecuteHSK 9
- 陷害xiànhàito entrapHSK 9
Example sentences
- 我害怕。 Wǒ hàipà.I'm afraid.
- 她有点害羞。 Tā yǒudiǎn hàixiū.She's a little timid.
- 他感冒了，头痛得厉害。 Tā gǎnmào le, tóu tòngde lìhai.He caught a cold and has a bad headache.
- 今年的流行感冒很厉害。 Jīnnián de liúxíng gǎnmào hěn lìhai.Flu is widespread this year.