伤害
Traditional: 傷害
shāng hài HSK 5

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

他的话伤害了她的感情。
Tā de huà shānghàile tā de gǎnqíng.
His words hurt her feelings.
吸烟会伤害你的健康。
Xīyān huì shānghài nǐ de jiànkāng.
Smoking will harm your health.
不要伤害小动物。
Bùyào shānghài xiǎo dòngwù.
Don't harm small animals.
不要伤害别人。
Bú yào shānghài biérén.
Do not hurt others.
吸烟伤害身体。
Xīyān shānghài shēntǐ.
Smoking harms the body.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the characters: 伤 (shāng) means 'injury' or 'wound,' and 害 (hài) means 'harm' or 'damage.' Think of it as 'injury-harm'—combining to mean 'to hurt or harm.' Associate it with scenarios where someone says, 'Don't hurt me' (不要伤害我).

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in register and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly used in discussions about physical injuries, emotional pain (e.g., in relationships), legal contexts (e.g., harm caused by actions), or abstract harm (e.g., to the environment or reputation).

📖 Grammar Points

伤害 is a transitive verb (e.g., 伤害别人) and can also be used as a noun (e.g., 造成很大的伤害). It often appears in passive constructions like 受到伤害 (to suffer harm) or with result complements like 伤害到 (to have harmed).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, avoiding harm to others' feelings (伤害感情) is emphasized in social interactions to maintain harmony. The word is also prevalent in discussions about social issues, such as protecting vulnerable groups from harm.

🔄 Similar Words

伤害 is broader than 受伤 (shòushāng, which specifically means 'to be injured' physically, often accidentally) and 损害 (sǔnhài, which often refers to damage to objects, interests, or abstract things like health, with a slightly more formal tone). 伤害 can include both physical and emotional harm.

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