to injure, to harm

JLPT N5 6 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Understanding (shāng)

The character primarily means 'to injure' or 'to harm,' and it can refer to both physical injuries and emotional harm. It is commonly used in contexts involving wounds, accidents, or metaphorical damage such as hurting someone's feelings.

Usage Notes

can be used as a verb meaning 'to injure' or 'to hurt.' It often appears in phrases like 受伤 (to be injured) or 伤害 (to harm). When referring to emotional damage, it implies causing pain or offense to someone's feelings.

Common Collocations

  • 受伤 (shòu shāng): to be injured, often used for physical wounds.
  • 伤害 (shānghài): to harm or hurt, can be physical or emotional.
  • 伤口 (shāngkǒu): wound or cut.

Register and Tone

is neutral in tone and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. When used metaphorically for emotional harm, it often carries a serious or empathetic tone.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse with (tòng), which means 'pain' or 'ache.' focuses on the injury or harm itself, while emphasizes the sensation of pain.

Understanding these nuances will help you use accurately in both everyday and more formal conversations.

Example Sentences

He was seriously injured during the match and needs to rest for a few

Don't hurt other people's feelings; be careful with your words.

This knife cut my finger and it bled a lot.