有ゆう害がい

ゆ

う

が

い

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

Describes something that causes damage, injury, or negative effects to health, the environment, or society. Often used in formal, technical, or news contexts.

Antonyms: 無害 (むがい)

タバコは健けん康こうに有ゆう害がいです。
Tobacco is harmful to health.
この工こう場じょうから有ゆう害がいな化か学がく物ぶっ質しつが排はい出しゅつされている。
Harmful chemical substances are being discharged from this factory.

See all 63 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの・事こと〉は〈人ひと・物もの〉に有ゆう害がいだX is harmful to Y
タバコの煙けむりは健けん康こうに有ゆう害がいだ。
Cigarette smoke is harmful to health.
有ゆう害がいな影えい響きょうを与あたえるto have a harmful effect (on something)
化か学がく物ぶっ質しつは生せい態たい系けいに有ゆう害がいな影えい響きょうを与あたえる。
Chemical substances have a harmful effect on ecosystems.

Kanji

有possess, have, exist
害harm, injury

Related words

有ゆう毒どくN1
有毒 specifically means poisonous or toxic (often of chemicals or substances), whereas 有害 is broader and covers any kind of harm, not just poison.
危き険けんN4
危険 focuses on danger or risk of harm occurring, while 有害 asserts that something actually causes harm or damage.

Opposites

無む害がいN1
harmless; non-harmful
有ゆう益えきN1
有害 means harmful, contrasting with 有益's meaning of being beneficial rather than damaging.

Word family· 12

有ゆう害がい性せい
harmfulness; toxicity
有ゆう害がいガス
harmful gas; toxic gas; noxious gas
有ゆう害がい事じ象しょう
adverse event; adverse reaction; adverse outcome
有ゆう害がい作さ用よう
adverse effect; adverse drug reaction
有ゆう害がい図と書しょ
harmful literature; harmful book; harmful reading matter

Show 5 more

有ゆう害がい植しょく物ぶつ
noxious plant; harmful plant
有ゆう害がい無む益えき
more harm than good; harmful and useless
有ゆう害がい物ぶっ質しつ
toxic substance; hazardous material
有ゆう害がい食しょく品ひん
harmful food; unwholesome food
無む益えき有ゆう害がい
useless and harmful

See all 12 in Explore →

Etymology

Compound of 有 (possessing) and 害 (harm, damage). The meaning is transparent from its components.