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March 24, 2026
伤害(傷害)shānghài(shang1hai4)
伤害 (shānghài) means to injure or to harm someone or something, both physically and emotionally. It is commonly used in contexts related to health, safety, and interpersonal relationships, often emphasizing the consequences of actions that lead to damage or suffering.
Frequency#591DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 伤害 extends beyond physical injuries to include emotional harm, reflecting the importance of interpersonal harmony and the impact of one's actions on others. This is often seen in discussions of mental health and social relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sharp sword (伤) cutting through a heart (害), symbolizing injury. The 'shang' sounds like 'shank', which can remind you of a painful injury. Visualize a person feeling pain and holding their heart to reinforce the meaning of harm.
Meanings of 伤害
shānghài(shang1hai4)
1to injure
2to harm
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 伤害
伤害Simplified
傷害Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#591Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 伤害
Podcast: 伤害
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AI Study Notes for 伤害
Quick Contrast
损害 (sǔnhài) vs 伤害 (shānghài): use 伤害 for emotional or interpersonal harm, while 损害 focuses more on physical damage or loss.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sharp sword (伤) cutting through a heart (害), symbolizing injury. The 'shang' sounds like 'shank', which can remind you of a painful injury. Visualize a person feeling pain and holding their heart to reinforce the meaning of harm.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 伤害 with similar words like 受伤 (shòushāng), which specifically means 'to be injured'. 伤害 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but often implies a more intentional act of harm. Watch out for tone errors, as mispronouncing shang (1st tone) can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 伤害 is crucial for discussing health, safety, and emotional well-being. Students should focus on using it in sentences that reflect real-life situations, such as describing accidents or interpersonal conflicts, and practice collocations with other related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 伤害 extends beyond physical injuries to include emotional harm, reflecting the importance of interpersonal harmony and the impact of one's actions on others. This is often seen in discussions of mental health and social relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 伤害 with 受伤 (shòushāng), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我受伤了' (I harmed) instead of '我伤害了他' (I harmed him) can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 伤害
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Grammar Patterns of 伤害
伤害 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他们两人都被判造成他人严重人身____的罪名成立。
They were both found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.
Example Sentences for 伤害 (10)
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1
他们两人都被判造成他人严重人身伤害的罪名成立。
tā mén liǎng rén dū bèi pàn zào chéng tā rén yán zhòng rén shēn shāng hài de zuì míng chéng lì。
They were both found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.
Environmentalists will be on the watch for damage to wildlife.
7
我发现烈酒对她伤害很大。
wǒ fā xiàn liè jiǔ duì tā shāng hài hěn dà。
I saw what the liquor was doing to her.
8
我想她觉得受到了莫大的伤害，无人爱她。
wǒ xiǎng tā jué dé shòu dào le mò dà de shāng hài， ， wú rén ài。
I think she feels desperately wounded and unloved.
9
我哪点伤害你了?
wǒ nǎ diǎn shāng hài nǐ le?
What harm have I ever done to you?
10
我觉得你下午的粗鲁行为对西蒙造成了伤害。
wǒ jué dé nǐ xià wǔ de cū lǔ háng wéi duì xī mēng zào chéng le shāng hài。
I think Simon was hurt by your abruptness this afternoon.
Cultural Notes for 伤害
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 伤害 extends beyond physical injuries to include emotional harm, reflecting the importance of interpersonal harmony and the impact of one's actions on others. This is often seen in discussions of mental health and social relationships.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the focus is often on physical injuries, while in Chinese culture, emotional harm is equally significant, highlighting the interconnectedness of physical and emotional well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions about 伤害
Yes, 伤害 can refer to both physical and emotional harm, making it versatile in discussions about relationships.
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the seriousness of the situation when using it.
You can use it in sentences like '他的行为伤害了我' (His actions harmed me).
