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Kotomora

害

harm, injury

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 500Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ガイ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

害 centers on damage or negative impact: harm and injury. It covers both physical hurt and broader detrimental effects.

Most common words using 害

24 of 504
  • 被害ひがい
    N3

    (suffering) damage; injury; harm

  • 障害しょうがい
    N3

    obstacle; impediment; hindrance; barrier; difficulty

  • 災害さいがい
    N2

    calamity; disaster; misfortune

  • 殺害さつがい

    killing; murder

  • 損害そんがい
    N2

    damage; injury; loss

  • 妨害ぼうがい
    N1

    obstruction; hindrance; blocking; disturbance; interference; interruption; sabotage; jamming (a signal)

  • 侵害しんがい

    infringement; violation; invasion; encroachment; trespass

  • 害がい
    N2

    injury; harm; evil influence; damage

  • 有害ゆうがい
    N2

    harmful; hazardous

  • 阻害そがい

    obstruction; impediment; hindrance; inhibition; blocking; check

  • 傷害しょうがい
    N1

    injury; inflicting bodily injury

  • 迫害はくがい
    N1

    persecution; oppression

  • 利害りがい
    N2

    advantages and disadvantages; interests (of parties)

  • 害虫がいちゅう
    N1

    harmful insect; noxious insect; pest; vermin

  • 危害きがい
    N2

    injury; harm; danger

  • 無害むがい
    N1

    harmless

  • 公害こうがい
    N2

    pollution; public nuisance; contamination

  • 弊害へいがい
    N1

    harmful effect; harmful influence; evil practice; abuse; malady

  • 害するがいする
    N1

    to injure; to damage; to harm; to hurt

  • 水害すいがい
    N1

    water damage; flood disaster

  • 薬害やくがい

    harmful side effects of a medicine or drug

  • 障害者しょうがいしゃ

    disabled person; person with a (physical or mental) disability

  • 被害者ひがいしゃ
    N3

    victim; injured party; sufferer

  • 冷害れいがい

    cold-weather damage (to crops)

Explore all words using 害 →

Study

Etymology

害 is thought to combine 宀 (roof) with 口 (mouth) and 土 (earth), but the exact historical development is uncertain. One traditional view interprets it as a roof covering a mouth that speaks harm, though this is speculative.

Meaning mnemonic

Under a roof 宀, a harmful mouth 口 spreads injury like dirt 土 piling up. The whole scene shows harm being done.

Reading mnemonic

For ガイ, imagine a guy causing harm under the roof: guy -> ガイ, and his actions bring injury.