损害

損害

sǔnhài

verb HSK 5 #7,228

Meanings

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

Characters

to damage; to lose

harm; to cause trouble

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

Examples

吸烟会损害你的健康。

Xīyān huì sǔnhài nǐ de jiànkāng.

Smoking will damage your health.

他的行为损害了公司的利益。

Tā de xíngwéi sǔnhài le gōngsī de lìyì.

His behavior harmed the company's interests.

不要做损害别人名誉的事。

Bú yào 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

损 sǔn

害 hài