损害

損害
sǔnhài
verb HSK 5 #7,228

Meanings

  1. 1 to harm; to damage
  2. 2 to impair; to undermine

Characters

Both characters carry the idea of harm - a double emphasis on damage.

Examples

HSK 4
Xīyān huì sǔnhài nǐ de jiànkāng.
Smoking will damage your health.
HSK 4
Tā de xíngwéi sǔnhài le gōngsī de lìyì.
His behavior harmed the company's interests.
HSK 6
Búyào zuò sǔnhài biérén míngyù de shì.
Don't do things that damage other people's reputations.

Tips

usage
损害 is more formal than 伤害 (shānghài). 损害 often collocates with abstract things: 利益 (interests), 健康 (health), 名誉 (reputation). 伤害 is more for hurting people/feelings.
usage
Compare: 损失 (sǔnshī) = loss/to lose (focuses on the loss itself), 损害 = to cause damage (focuses on the act of harming).

Stroke Order

sǔn
hài