# 害 damage

(crown) + 主 (master/mainly) + 口 (mouth/small box radical)
★★★★☆
10 strokes
BETA

## Onyomi

GAI |

## Mnemonic

| That GUY punched the master right in the fucking mouth, damaging his crown in the process.

## Jukugo

公害(こうがい) | pollution. ★★☆☆☆ 公 (public) + 害 (damage) = 公害 (pollution.) pollution. Has a more broad meaning than the related word 汚染（おせん）。 Not just dirty smoggy air, but also noise pollution, the annoyance of someone talking on a cellphone on a train, and 情報公害　（じょうほうこうがい）: "ad pollution" - the inescapable advertisements one sees everywhere. BOOBOO:If you want to say "environmental pollution," you have to use 汚染、　not 公害。
被害(ひがい) | casualties ★★☆☆☆ 被 (get injured) + 害 (damage) = 被害 (casualties) damage (to property) or casualties (human): used about earthquakes, wars, and crimes.
被害者(ひがいしゃ) | victim ★★☆☆☆ NP 被害 (casualties) + 者 (professional) = 被害者 (victim)
妨害(ぼうがい) | interference ★★☆☆☆ 妨 (prevent) + 害 (damage) = 妨害 (interference) interference - a person interferes with you. (妨害 is used with people, while the related term 阻害（そがい） is used about objects）

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
毒 | poison/ addict | EVERY | 毎
害 | damage | MOUTH | 口

Sugar damages your mouth, but the addict eats it EVERY day.

## Used In

- 割

## Synonyms

disaster 災害 災い 災難
injure, harm 損害 傷める 被害 損なう
obstacle 阻害 妨害 支障 足手まとい
oppress 虐待 迫害 虐げる
pollution 汚染 公害