(hài) — (verb) to harm, to cause trouble to; (noun) harm, evil, calamity

Definition

As a verb, 害 means 'to harm' (a person or thing); as a noun, it means the harm or evil itself. Stronger and more literary than the everyday 坏处 (just 'drawback'), and pairs with objects like 人/身体 more than the abstract 坏处 does.

verb
to harmto cause trouble to
noun
harmevilcalamity

Examples

  • Xī yān hài rén
    Smoking harms people.
  • Xī yān de hài chù hěn duō
    Smoking has many harms.
  • Bié hài wǒ le, wǒ zhēn de hěn máng.
    Don't bother me, I'm really busy.

Grammar

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