弊へい害がい

へ

い

が

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to negative consequences, abuses, or harmful influences arising from a system, policy, or practice. Often used in formal or critical contexts.

新あたらしい制せい度どの弊へい害がいが早はやくも現あらわれている。
The harmful effects of the new system are already appearing.
情じょう報ほう化か社しゃ会かいの弊へい害がいについて議ぎ論ろんする。
We discuss the negative consequences of the information society.

See all 32 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉に弊へい害がいをもたらすto bring about harmful effects to something
過か度どな競きょう争そうは社しゃ会かいに弊へい害がいをもたらすことがある。
Excessive competition can bring harmful effects to society.
弊へい害がいが生しょうじるfor harmful effects to arise
この制せい度どには様さま々ざまな弊へい害がいが生しょうじている。
Various harmful effects have arisen from this system.
弊へい害がいを引ひき起おこすto cause harmful effects
急きゅう速そくな都と市し化かは多おおくの弊へい害がいを引ひき起おこした。
Rapid urbanization caused many harmful effects.
弊へい害がいを防ふせぐto prevent harmful effects
新あたらしい規き則そくは弊へい害がいを防ふせぐために作つくられた。
The new rule was made to prevent harmful effects.

Kanji

弊abuse, evil, vice
害harm, injury

Related words

悪あく影えい響きょう
悪影響 is a broad term for any bad influence, while 弊害 specifically points to harm caused by a system, policy, or practice.
害がいN2
害 is a plain, general word for harm or damage, whereas 弊害 is more formal and usually describes systemic or institutional harm.
悪あく弊へい
悪弊 refers to the bad custom or practice itself, while 弊害 refers to the harmful effect that such a practice produces.
副ふく作さ用ようN2
副作用 literally means a side effect (esp. of medicine) but is often used figuratively like 弊害 for unintended negative consequences.
ひずみN1
歪み emphasizes an underlying imbalance in a system, while 弊害 focuses on the concrete harmful consequence that results.

Opposites

利り益えきN2
利益 is the benefit or gain a system produces, standing in contrast to 弊害, the harm it causes.
効こう用よう
弊害 refers to a harmful or negative side effect, the opposite of 効用's beneficial or useful effect.
恩おん恵けいN2
弊害 means a harmful effect or negative side-effect, the opposite of the positive benefit expressed by 恩恵.

Don't confuse with

疲ひ弊へい
疲弊 and 弊害 share the kanji 弊 but 弊害 means a harmful side effect or negative consequence, not exhaustion.

Counted with

件けんN2
弊害 is counted with 件 when referring to individual reported instances or cases of harm.

Etymology

Compound of 弊 (へい, 'evil', 'harm') and 害 (がい, 'harm', 'damage'). The kanji 弊 originally referred to worn-out or broken things, extending to mean 'harmful' or 'abusive'.