sǔnhài: 损害 - To Damage, To Harm, Detriment

• Keywords: sunhai, 损害, damage in Chinese, harm in Chinese, what does sunhai mean, how to use sunhai, damage reputation Chinese, damage interests Chinese, Chinese verb for harm, sǔnhài, 损害健康, 损害利益, formal Chinese for damage.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the Chinese word 损害 (sǔnhài), a formal term for “to damage” or “to harm.” Unlike simply breaking an object, `损害` is used for serious, often abstract damage to things like health, reputation, relationships, or a company's interests. This guide provides a deep dive into its cultural context, practical examples, and common mistakes to help you use `损害` accurately and understand its significance in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): sǔnhài
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To cause damage, harm, or loss to something, particularly abstract concepts or large-scale entities.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `损害` as “damage” in its most serious and formal sense. You don't use it when you drop a plate. You use it when an action negatively impacts something significant and often intangible, like a person's reputation, public health, a company's image, or international relations. It carries a strong sense of violation and impairment.

• 损 (sǔn): This character is composed of the “hand” radical (扌) on the left and 员 (yuán) on the right. The hand suggests an action, while the original meaning of the character relates to decrease or loss. Thus, `损` means to cause a loss, to decrease, or to damage.
• 害 (hài): This character shows a “roof” (宀) over a component historically related to calamity or destructive speech. It conveys the idea of harm, evil, or disaster contained within a space.
• Combined Meaning: Putting `损` (loss) and `害` (harm) together creates a powerful and formal term, 损害 (sǔnhài). It means to inflict a harmful loss, emphasizing the severity and negative consequences of the action.

In English, “to damage” can be used for almost anything, from a car to a reputation. In Chinese, 损害 (sǔnhài) occupies a more formal and serious space, deeply connected to concepts of collective well-being, social standing, and “face” (面子). Compare 损害 (sǔnhài) to the Western legal concept of “damages” or “detriment.” While similar, `损害` is used more broadly in non-legal, formal contexts to describe harm to abstract but culturally vital things:

• 损害利益 (sǔnhài lìyì): To damage interests. This is a cornerstone phrase in business and politics, reflecting a collectivist concern for the group's (company's, nation's) welfare.
• 损害名誉 (sǔnhài míngyù): To damage a reputation. This is more severe than a simple insult, as it can affect a person's social standing and relationships (`关系`).
• 损害关系 (sǔnhài guānxì): To damage a relationship. This implies a serious breach of trust that disrupts social harmony.

Using `损害` indicates that the speaker views the situation with gravity. It elevates the “damage” from a simple, physical problem to a violation of interests, health, or social order.

`损害` is rarely used in casual, everyday chat about minor incidents. Its use is reserved for more formal or serious situations. In Formal & Legal Contexts: You will frequently encounter `损害` in news reports, legal documents, official government statements, and corporate communications.

• `任何损害国家主权的行为都是不能容忍的。` (Any act that damages national sovereignty is intolerable.)
• `合同规定，违约方需赔偿对另一方造成的损害。` (The contract stipulates that the breaching party must compensate for the damage caused to the other party.)

In Health and Wellness: This is a common context where `损害` is used in public-facing messages.

• `吸烟损害健康。` (Smoking damages health.) - A classic warning.
• `长期熬夜会严重损害身体机能。` (Staying up late long-term will seriously damage bodily functions.)

In Business and Social Interactions: It's used when discussing serious impacts on reputation, image, or relationships.

• `发布虚假新闻会损害公司的公众形象。` (Publishing fake news will damage the company's public image.)
• `他的背叛损害了我们之间的信任。` (His betrayal damaged the trust between us.)

• Example 1:
  • 吸烟会损害你的健康。
  • Pinyin: Xīyān huì sǔnhài nǐ de jiànkāng.
  • English: Smoking will damage your health.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and standard usage. `损害` is the perfect word for the gradual, serious harm caused to one's health.
• Example 2:
  • 他的不负责任的言论损害了公司的名誉。
  • Pinyin: Tā de bù fùzérèn de yánlùn sǔnhài le gōngsī de míngyù.
  • English: His irresponsible comments damaged the company's reputation.
  • Analysis: Here, `损害` is used for the abstract concept of “reputation” (`名誉`). This is a formal and serious accusation.
• Example 3:
  • 我们不应做任何损害国家利益的事情。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bù yìng zuò rènhé sǔnhài guójiā lìyì de shìqíng.
  • English: We should not do anything that harms the national interest.
  • Analysis: A very formal sentence, typical of political or official discourse. `利益` (interests) is a common object for the verb `损害`.
• Example 4:
  • 这个决定可能会损害我们和客户的关系。
  • Pinyin: Zhège juédìng kěnéng huì sǔnhài wǒmen hé kèhù de guānxì.
  • English: This decision might damage our relationship with the client.
  • Analysis: `关系` (relationship) is another abstract concept that can be “damaged.” This implies a serious negative impact, not just a minor disagreement.
• Example 5:
  • 过度砍伐森林损害了生态平衡。
  • Pinyin: Guòdù kǎnfá sēnlín sǔnhài le shēngtài pínghéng.
  • English: Excessive deforestation has damaged the ecological balance.
  • Analysis: `损害` can be used for large-scale, serious physical damage to systems like the environment or an ecosystem.
• Example 6:
  • 长时间看手机会损害视力。
  • Pinyin: Cháng shíjiān kàn shǒujī huì sǔnhài shìlì.
  • English: Looking at your phone for a long time will damage your eyesight.
  • Analysis: `视力` (eyesight) is a part of health, making `损害` a suitable and common verb.
• Example 7:
  • 散布谣言是对他人的一种损害。
  • Pinyin: Sànbù yáoyán shì duì tārén de yī zhǒng sǔnhài.
  • English: Spreading rumors is a form of harm to others.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, `损害` is used as a noun, meaning “harm” or “detriment.”
• Example 8:
  • 这种化学物质会损害土壤。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng huàxué wùzhì huì sǔnhài tǔrǎng.
  • English: This chemical substance will damage the soil.
  • Analysis: Similar to the environment example, this refers to damaging a large, complex system (the soil).
• Example 9:
  • 他的谎言严重损害了团队的信任。
  • Pinyin: Tā de huǎngyán yánzhòng sǔnhài le tuánduì de xìnrèn.
  • English: His lies seriously damaged the team's trust.
  • Analysis: `信任` (trust) is a perfect example of an intangible but vital concept that `损害` is used to describe damaging.
• Example 10:
  • 我们必须评估这个政策可能带来的损害。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū pínggū zhège zhèngcè kěnéng dài lái de sǔnhài.
  • English: We must assess the potential damage this policy could bring.
  • Analysis: Another example of `损害` used as a noun, referring to the “damage” or “detriment” itself.

The most common mistake for English speakers is using `损害` too casually, especially for simple, physical objects. Mistake: Using `损害` for everyday broken items.

• Incorrect: `哎呀，我损害了我的杯子。` (Āiyā, wǒ sǔnhài le wǒ de bēizi.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds overly dramatic and strange, like saying “I have inflicted detriment upon my mug.” `损害` is too formal and serious for this context.
• Correct: `哎呀，我把我的杯子弄坏了。` (Āiyā, wǒ bǎ wǒ de bēizi nòng huài le.) or `我的杯子坏了。` (Wǒ de bēizi huài le.)

Key Distinction: `损害` vs. `伤害` (shānghài)

• 损害 (sǔnhài): Primarily damages things, systems, or abstract concepts (interests, reputation, health, environment).
• 伤害 (shānghài): Primarily injures living beings, physically or emotionally. It means “to injure” or “to hurt.” You `伤害` a person's feelings (`感情`), but you `损害` their reputation (`名誉`).

Rule of Thumb: If you can replace “damage” with “impair,” “undermine,” or “harm the interests of,” then `损害` is likely a good fit. If you would say “break” or “ruin” for a simple object, use `弄坏 (nòng huài)`. If you would say “injure” or “hurt” a person, use `伤害 (shānghài)`.

• 破坏 (pòhuài) - To destroy, to break. More focused on active, physical destruction (e.g., destroying a building, sabotaging a plan).
• 伤害 (shānghài) - To injure, to hurt. Used for physical or emotional harm to people or animals. More personal than `损害`.
• 损失 (sǔnshī) - (Noun) Loss, damage. Refers to the resulting loss itself, especially in economic or material terms. You might suffer a `损失` because something was `损害`ed.
• 危害 (wēihài) - To harm, to endanger. Carries a strong sense of danger and threat to safety or well-being.
• 弄坏 (nòng huài) - To break (something). The common, informal verb for breaking a physical object.
• 利益 (lìyì) - Interests, benefits. This is a very common object of the verb `损害`.
• 名誉 (míngyù) - Reputation, good name. Another primary concept that can be `损害`ed.
• 侵犯 (qīnfàn) - To infringe, to violate. A legalistic term often used for violating rights, privacy, or sovereignty. Sometimes an act of `侵犯` also causes `损害`.