How to say "harm" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 被害ひがいnounA noun for harm or damage that someone or something suffers, as from a disaster, crime or accident; think of it as the harm done to victims or property.
- 損そんnoun, na-adjective, suru verb, intransitive verbFor 'harm' it is only a loose fit: the word really means loss or disadvantage — being worse off or losing out — rather than harm inflicted on someone or something.
- 損なうそこなうgodan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to harm, hurt or damage something, with a nuance of impairing or spoiling it; typical contexts include harming one's health or marring the appearance or quality of something.
- 損ねるそこねるichidan verb, transitive verbA verb close in meaning to 損なう: to harm, hurt, injure or wreck something, with a nuance of spoiling it. It suits contexts where an action mars or wrecks something.
- 害がいnounA noun for harm, injury or evil influence that something causes, such as harm to health; it frames harm as an adverse effect, rather than damage suffered in an incident.
For harm suffered, use 被害; for harm or ill effect caused, 害; 損 is really loss or disadvantage; and 「損なう」 and 「損ねる」 are the verbs for harming, damaging or spoiling something.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 被害ひがい(suffering) damage
- 損そんloss
- 損なうそこなうto harm
- 損ねるそこねるto harm
- 害がいinjury
- 害するがいするto injure
- 危害きがいinjury
- 害悪がいあくharm
- 損じるそんじるto harm
- 毀損きそんdamage
- 害毒がいどくharm
- 賊害ぞくがいharm
- 仇するあだするto harm
- 危害を加えるきがいをくわえるto harm
- 禍害かがいevil
- 害すがいすto injure
- いてまうto beat
- 痛めつけるいためつけるto torment
- 毒どくharm
- 痛めるいためるto harm
- 仇あだharm
- 侵すおかすto harm
- 冒すおかすto harm
- 障りさわりharm (to one's health)
- 蠧毒とどくharm
- 差し障りさしさわりannoyance (to others)
- やるto harm
- 損するそんするto harm
See also
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