害
harm · injury
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of roof, plentiful, and mouth. Harming inside house.
Symbolism
Damage, pest, harm. Represents damaging.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一利一害
いちりいちがい
advantages and disadvantages; gain some, lose some
被害妄想
ひがいもうそう
persecution complex; paranoia
有害無益
ゆうがいむえき
more harm than good; harmful and of no use
人畜無害
じんちくむがい
harmless to humans and animals; having no influence; unimportant
利害得失
りがいとくしつ
advantages and disadvantages; pros and cons
要害堅固
ようがいけんご
(a fortress being) impregnable; unassailable
無益有害
むえきゆうがい
useless and harmful
Proverbs & Idioms
百害あって一利なし
ひゃくがいあっていちりなし
A hundred harms and not one benefit
Something that causes only harm and no good whatsoever
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 害 mean in Japanese?
害 means harm, injury.
How do you read 害?
On'yomi: ガイ (GAI).
How many strokes does 害 have?
害 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 宀 (roof).
Is 害 a good kanji for a tattoo?
害 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means harm, injury. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.