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B1 noun #4,000 am häufigsten 9 Min. Lesezeit

被害

higai Top 4,000

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Erklärung 被害 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 被害 (higai) means 'damage.' You might see it in very simple news headlines or on warning signs. Think of it as a noun for when something bad happens to a thing or a person. For example, if a big rain comes and breaks a house, that is higai. It's often used with 'big' (ōkina) or 'small' (chiisana). You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just recognize that it's a word for 'bad results' from an accident or weather. You might hear 'higai' when someone is talking about a car accident or a broken window in a story. It's a useful word to know for basic safety and understanding what happened in a simple situation.

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At the A2 level, you should start using 被害 (higai) with simple verbs. The most important phrase is 被害を受ける (higai o ukeru), which means 'to suffer damage' or 'to be damaged.' You might use this to talk about your garden after a storm or your bike after an accident. You should also learn 被害者 (higaisha), which means 'victim.' This is common in simple stories or news. At this level, you are moving beyond just knowing the word to using it in basic sentences to describe events. For example: 'The storm caused damage' (Arashi de higai ga demashita). You can also use it to express that you were the one affected by a mistake or a small problem.

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At the B1 level, you should be able to use 被害 (higai) in a variety of social and formal contexts. You should understand that it applies not just to physical things, but also to abstract things like 'reputation damage' (fūhyō higai) or 'scam damage' (sagi no higai). You should be comfortable with collocations like 被害を最小限に抑える (to keep damage to a minimum) and 被害が拡大する (damage expands). You will encounter this word frequently in Japanese newspapers (NHK News Web Easy is a great place to see it). You should also know the difference between higai and songai (financial loss), and use higai when the focus is on the harm suffered by people or the environment.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 被害 (higai) with precise modifiers and in complex grammatical structures. You should be able to discuss the 'extent of damage' (higai jōkyō) and use the word in passive or causative-passive sentences. You should also be familiar with more technical terms like 二次被害 (niji higai), which refers to 'secondary damage' (like a fire starting after an earthquake). You can use the word to discuss social issues, such as the 'damage caused by environmental pollution' or 'harm from workplace harassment.' Your vocabulary should include related formal verbs like oyobosu (to exert/cause) and kōmuru (to sustain/suffer - very formal).

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At the C1 level, your understanding of 被害 (higai) should include its nuances in legal, psychological, and sociological contexts. You should be able to analyze the 'social damage' caused by specific policies or events. You will use the term in academic writing or professional reports, often in compounds like 被害補償 (higai hoshō) (damage compensation) or 被害想定 (higai sōtei) (damage estimation/scenario). You should also be sensitive to the psychological nuance of higai mōsō (persecution complex) and how it's used in psychiatric or everyday contexts. At this level, you can fluently switch between higai and more specific terms like heigai (evils/malady) or sanka (calamity) depending on the desired tone and impact.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of 被害 (higai), including its historical and metaphorical uses. You can use it to discuss complex philosophical ideas, such as the 'damage to the human spirit' or 'harm to cultural heritage.' You are comfortable with archaic or highly literary variations and can understand the subtle differences in meaning when higai is used in high-level legal discourse versus investigative journalism. You can eloquently debate the ethics of 'victimhood' (higaisha-ishiki - victim mentality) and the societal structures that contribute to recurring harm. Your usage is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker, utilizing the word with perfect register and collocation.

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被害 in 30 Sekunden

Higai means damage or harm caused by external events like disasters or crimes.
It is a noun, often used in the phrase 'higai o ukeru' (to suffer damage).
It applies to physical objects, people (victims), and abstract things like reputation.
Commonly found in news reports, weather forecasts, and police/legal contexts.

The Japanese word 被害 (ひがい - Higai) is a cornerstone of the Japanese language when discussing the negative impacts of events, ranging from natural disasters to criminal acts and digital breaches. At its core, it represents the concept of receiving harm or sustaining damage. Unlike some English synonyms that might focus purely on the physical destruction of an object, higai encompasses the suffering of people, the loss of property, and the broader negative consequences inflicted by an external force or agent. It is a noun that frequently functions as the object of the verb ukeru (to receive/suffer), creating the common phrase 被害を受ける.

Physical Destruction: This refers to tangible damage to buildings, infrastructure, or the environment, often caused by natural phenomena like earthquakes (地震) or typhoons (台風). When a bridge collapses or a roof is blown off, Japanese speakers immediately look for the extent of the higai.
Human Suffering: Beyond bricks and mortar, higai applies to the injuries or casualties sustained by people. The term 被害者 (higaisha) specifically refers to a victim—someone who has suffered harm at the hands of another or due to an accident.
Economic and Abstract Loss: In the modern era, higai is used extensively in the context of cyber-attacks (サイバー攻撃) or financial scams (詐欺). If personal data is leaked or money is stolen through phishing, the resulting loss is described as higai.

昨夜の台風で、この地域は甚大な被害を受けた。(Sakuya no taifū de, kono chiiki wa jindai na higai o uketa.) — The typhoon last night caused enormous damage to this area.

The word is composed of two kanji: 被 (hi), meaning 'to incur' or 'to be covered by,' and 害 (gai), meaning 'harm' or 'damage.' This etymological structure highlights the passive nature of the experience—the harm is something that happens to someone or something. In daily conversation, while you might use simpler words for a small scratch on a phone, higai is the standard for reporting incidents to authorities, insurance companies, or in formal announcements. It carries a weight of seriousness and objective reporting.

詐欺の被害に遭わないように注意してください。(Sagi no higai ni awanai yō ni chūi shite kudasai.) — Please be careful not to fall victim to fraud.

News Context: Journalists use this word to quantify the impact of events. You'll hear phrases like '被害総額' (higai sōgaku - total amount of damage) when discussing the monetary cost of a disaster.

Using 被害 (Higai) correctly requires understanding its collocations with specific verbs. It is almost never used in a vacuum; it is the result of an action. Whether you are describing a crop failure, a data leak, or a physical assault, the sentence structure usually revolves around the 'occurrence' or 'reception' of this harm. This section explores the grammatical nuances that distinguish a fluent speaker from a beginner.

Pattern 1: [Subject] が被害を受ける: This is the most standard 'passive' construction. The subject is the one who suffers. For example, 'The farmers suffered damage' would be '農家が被害を受けた'. This focuses on the experience of the victim.
Pattern 2: 被害が出る (Higai ga deru): Literally 'damage comes out.' This is used to report that damage has occurred in a specific area or situation. It is very common in news headlines: '地震で建物に被害が出た' (Damage occurred to buildings due to the earthquake).
Pattern 3: 被害を及ぼす (Higai o oyobosu): This is an active construction meaning 'to exert harm' or 'to cause damage to.' It is often used when discussing the influence of chemicals, pollution, or bad habits on health or the environment.

大雨によって、農作物に大きな被害が出ました。(Ōame ni yotte, nōsakumotsu ni ōkina higai ga demashita.) — Due to the heavy rain, significant damage occurred to the crops.

In formal reports, higai is often part of compound nouns. Understanding these compounds is essential for reading newspapers or official documents. 被害状況 (higai jōkyō) refers to the 'status of damage,' while 被害届 (higai todoke) is a 'damage report' or 'police report' filed by a victim. If you are ever in Japan and lose your wallet due to theft, the police will ask you to file a higai todoke.

警察に被害届を提出しました。(Keisatsu ni higai todoke o teishutsu shimashita.) — I submitted a damage report to the police.

Modifier Usage: You can modify higai with adjectives like 深刻な (shinkoku na - serious), 軽微な (keibi na - minor), or 壊滅的な (kaimetsuteki na - catastrophic).

The word 被害 (Higai) is ubiquitous in Japanese media and formal communication. Because Japan is a country prone to natural disasters, the word appears in daily weather forecasts and emergency broadcasts. However, its usage extends far beyond the weather. You will encounter it in legal dramas, corporate apologies, and even in discussions about social issues like bullying or harassment.

The Newsroom: News anchors use higai to provide objective data. '被害は拡大しています' (The damage is expanding) is a chilling but common phrase during ongoing crises like forest fires or virus outbreaks. It provides a sense of the scale of the disaster.
Police and Legal Contexts: In detective shows or real-life crime reporting, higaisha (victim) is used constantly. The '被害妄想' (higai mōsō) is a term used to describe a 'persecution complex' or 'paranoia,' literally a 'delusion of being harmed.'
Corporate and Tech World: When a company’s server is hacked, the official press release will discuss the '情報漏洩による被害' (damage due to information leakage). They might also discuss '風評被害' (fūhyō higai), which refers to damage caused by harmful rumors or reputation loss.

そのニュースは風評被害をもたらした。(Sono nyūsu wa fūhyō higai o motorashita.) — That news caused damage through harmful rumors.

In schools and workplaces, the word is used in the context of ijime (bullying) or pawahara (power harassment). Someone might say, 'いじめの被害に遭っている生徒を助けたい' (I want to help students who are suffering from bullying). Here, higai validates the student's experience as a serious injury, even if it isn't physical. It elevates the conversation from a simple disagreement to a situation involving a victim and harm.

今回のサイバー攻撃による被害額は数億円に上る。(Konkai no saibā kōgeki ni yoru higaigaku wa sūokuen ni noboru.) — The damage amount from this cyber-attack reaches several hundred million yen.

Daily Life: While less common in casual 'chat,' you might use it if your garden was ruined by a neighbor's pet or if your car was scratched in a parking lot. It adds a formal tone of grievance.

While 被害 (Higai) is a versatile word, English speakers often confuse it with other Japanese terms for 'damage' or 'hurt.' The most common error is using higai when referring to personal, physical injuries that don't involve an external 'incident' or when talking about purely financial losses in a business transaction where songai is more appropriate.

Higai vs. Songai (損害): Higai is general harm/damage. Songai is specifically used for 'loss' or 'damage' in a legal or financial context, especially when calculating compensation. You 'suffer' higai, but you 'incur' songai. For example, 損害賠償 (songai baishō) is 'compensation for damages.'
Higai vs. Kega (怪我): If you trip and scrape your knee, that is a kega (injury). You would not say you have higai on your knee. Higai refers to the event of being harmed, while kega is the physical wound itself. However, a victim of a crime might have kega as part of the overall higai.
Higai vs. Dame-ji (ダメージ): The loanword 'damage' is used in video games or when talking about emotional impact in a casual way ('That breakup gave me huge damage!'). Higai is too formal for these contexts.

❌ 足に被害があります。(Ashi ni higai ga arimasu.) — Incorrect for a personal injury.
✅ 足に怪我をしています。(Ashi ni kega o shite imasu.) — Correct.

Another mistake is the verb pairing. Learners often try to use suru (to do) with higai. However, higai is not a suru-verb. You cannot say 'higai suru' to mean 'to damage.' You must use 'higai o ataeru' (to give/inflict damage) or 'higai o oyobosu' (to exert damage). Conversely, the victim does not 'higai suru'; they 'higai o ukeru' (receive damage).

❌ 彼は車を被害した。(He damaged the car - Incorrect)
✅ 彼は車を壊した。(He broke/damaged the car - Correct)

To truly master Japanese, you must know when to swap 被害 (Higai) for a more specific or appropriate synonym. The Japanese language has a rich vocabulary for different types of 'harm' depending on the cause, the object, and the level of formality.

損害 (Songai): Focus: Financial and material loss. Use this when talking about insurance, business deficits, or legal compensation. While higai is the 'harm' felt, songai is the 'loss' quantified.
弊害 (Heigai): Focus: Evil influence or harmful side effects. This is used for abstract concepts like the 'harmful effects of social media' or 'evils of a bureaucracy.' It suggests a systemic or long-term negative impact.
害 (Gai): Focus: General harm or detriment. This is a broader, simpler term. For example, 'smoking is harmful' is '喫煙は体に害がある'. It doesn't imply a specific event like higai does.
負傷 (Fushō): Focus: Physical injury. In news reports, you will hear '被害者' (victims) and '負傷者' (injured persons). Fushō is specifically about the body.

タバコは健康に害を及ぼす。(Tabako wa kenkō ni gai o oyobosu.) — Tobacco causes harm to health. (Use 'gai' here for general detriment).

When choosing between these, ask yourself: Is there a specific victim? (Use higai). Is there a dollar amount attached? (Use songai). Is it a general bad influence? (Use heigai or gai). Is it a physical wound? (Use kega or fushō).

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The kanji 被 (hi) is also used in the word for 'clothing' (被服 - hifuku) because clothes 'cover' the body, just as damage 'covers' or affects a victim.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /hi.ɡa.i/

US /hi.ɡa.i/

Japanese has pitch accent rather than stress. In 'higai', the pitch is Low-High-High (Heiban style).

Reimt sich auf

期待 (Kitai) 以外 (Igai) 機械 (Kikai) 世界 (Sekai) 理解 (Rikai) 視界 (Shikai) 司会 (Shikai) 誓い (Chikai)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'ga' as 'ja'.
Elongating the 'i' into a long 'ee' sound like English 'high-guy'.
Mixing up the pitch accent with 'hikai' (lower/light).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Kanji are common but require attention to the '被' radical.

Schreiben 4/5

Writing '被' and '害' correctly takes practice for intermediate learners.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward once pitch accent is learned.

Hören 2/5

Very distinct sound, easy to pick out in news reports.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

害受ける出る大きい

Als Nächstes lernen

損害被害者加害者賠償

Fortgeschritten

弊害惨禍毀損実害

Wichtige Grammatik

Passive Voice (受身形)

家が壊された (The house was broken) vs 家が被害を受けた (The house suffered damage).

Noun Compounds

被害 + 者 = 被害者 (Victim).

Transitive vs Intransitive

被害が出る (Intransitive) vs 被害を出す (Transitive).

Formal Modifiers

甚大な、軽微な、壊滅的な.

Cause/Reason 'ni yoru'

地震による被害 (Damage due to the earthquake).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

台風で被害がありました。

There was damage due to the typhoon.

Uses 'ga arimashita' to show existence of damage.

車に少し被害が出ました。

There was a little damage to the car.

Uses 'ga demashita' to say damage occurred.

被害は大きくないです。

The damage is not big.

Simple adjective modification.

雨の被害に気をつけてください。

Please be careful of rain damage.

Noun + no + Higai.

火事で家が被害を受けました。

The house was damaged by the fire.

Subject + ga + Higai o ukeru.

被害者は誰ですか？

Who is the victim?

Higaisha is a common noun for 'victim'.

地震の被害を調べます。

I will check the earthquake damage.

Object marker 'o' with a verb.

被害がなくてよかったです。

I'm glad there was no damage.

Negative form 'nakute'.

大雪で交通に被害が出ました。

Heavy snow caused damage/disruption to traffic.

Higai can refer to functional disruption.

泥棒に入られて、被害を受けました。

A thief broke in, and I suffered a loss.

Passive verb 'irarerete' followed by higai.

警察に被害を報告しました。

I reported the damage/incident to the police.

Verb 'hōkoku suru' (to report).

この虫は木に被害を与えます。

This insect causes damage to trees.

Higai o ataeru (to inflict damage).

被害者の名前はまだわかりません。

The victim's name is not yet known.

Genitive 'no' connecting nouns.

津波の被害はとても深刻でした。

The damage from the tsunami was very serious.

Shinkoku (serious) as an adjective.

彼は詐欺の被害に遭いました。

He fell victim to a scam.

Higai ni au (to encounter/suffer damage).

被害を最小限にしたいです。

I want to minimize the damage.

Saishōgen (minimum) + ni suru.

台風の被害状況を確認しています。

We are confirming the damage status of the typhoon.

Compound noun 'higai jōkyō'.

風評被害で、地元の野菜が売れません。

Due to harmful rumors, local vegetables aren't selling.

Fūhyō higai (damage from rumors).

サイバー攻撃の被害が広がっています。

The damage from the cyber-attack is spreading.

Verb 'hirogatte iru' (is spreading).

被害届を出すために警察署へ行きました。

I went to the police station to file a damage report.

Higai todoke (official report).

洪水は街全体に大きな被害を及ぼした。

The flood caused great damage to the entire town.

Higai o oyobosu (to exert/cause damage).

その事件には多くの被害者がいます。

There are many victims in that incident.

Plurality implied by 'ōku no'.

被害を受けた人々を支援する活動。

Activities to support people who suffered damage.

Relative clause modifying 'hitobito'.

建物の被害は軽微で済みました。

The damage to the building ended up being minor.

Keibi (minor) + de sumu (to be enough/result in).

地震による二次被害を防ぐことが重要だ。

It is important to prevent secondary damage caused by the earthquake.

Niji higai (secondary damage).

被害総額は過去最大になると予想される。

The total amount of damage is expected to be the largest in history.

Higai sōgaku (total amount of damage).

彼は被害妄想が強く、他人が信じられない。

He has a strong persecution complex and cannot trust others.

Higai mōsō (paranoia/delusion of persecution).

環境汚染は、次世代にまで被害を及ぼす。

Environmental pollution causes harm even to the next generation.

Ni made (even to) + higai o oyobosu.

被害者のプライバシーを守る必要があります。

It is necessary to protect the privacy of the victims.

Grammar: ~hitsuyō ga aru.

甚大な被害を受けた地域への救援物資。

Relief supplies for the areas that suffered enormous damage.

Jindai na (enormous) modifying higai.

不祥事によるブランドイメージの被害は大きい。

The damage to the brand image due to the scandal is significant.

Abstract usage of damage.

被害を食い止めるために、全力を尽くす。

We will do our best to stop the damage from spreading.

Higai o kuitomeru (to check/stop damage).

被害想定に基づいた避難訓練を実施する。

Conduct evacuation drills based on damage scenarios.

Higai sōtei (damage estimation/scenario).

加害者が被害者に謝罪するのは当然だ。

It is natural for the perpetrator to apologize to the victim.

Contrast between kagaisha (perpetrator) and higaisha.

情報の不正流出は、計り知れない被害を招く。

The illegal leak of information leads to immeasurable damage.

Hakari-shirenai (immeasurable).

裁判所は、精神的被害に対する賠償を命じた。

The court ordered compensation for psychological damage.

Seishinteki higai (psychological damage).

被害の全容が明らかになるまで時間がかかる。

It will take time until the full extent of the damage becomes clear.

Higai no zen'yō (full extent of damage).

戦争の惨禍は、言葉で言い表せない被害を残した。

The calamity of war left behind damage that cannot be expressed in words.

High-level vocabulary: sanka (calamity).

被害者意識を克服し、前向きに生きる。

Overcome the victim mentality and live positively.

Higaisha-ishiki (victim mentality).

企業の社会的責任が、被害の拡大を防いだ。

Corporate social responsibility prevented the expansion of damage.

Abstract causal relationship.

歴史的建造物の損壊は、文化的な被害と言える。

The destruction of historical buildings can be called cultural damage.

Categorizing damage as 'cultural'.

加害の連鎖を断ち切り、被害の再発を防ぐ。

Break the chain of harm and prevent the recurrence of damage.

Kagai (harming) vs Higai (being harmed).

被害者の救済措置が法的に整備されている。

Relief measures for victims are legally established.

Kyūsai sochi (relief measures).

無意識の差別が、特定の人々に被害を強いている。

Unconscious discrimination is forcing harm upon specific groups of people.

Higai o shiiru (to force harm/damage).

被害の規模が想定を遥かに上回っている。

The scale of the damage far exceeds the initial estimates.

Haruka ni uwamawaru (far exceed).

メディアの報道が二次的な被害を助長している。

Media reporting is encouraging/exacerbating secondary damage.

Jochō suru (to encourage/exacerbate).

被害の弁済をめぐって、激しい論争が続いている。

A fierce debate continues regarding the reimbursement of damages.

Bensai (reimbursement/settlement).

被害の潜在化を防ぐため、窓口を設置する。

Set up a consultation desk to prevent damage from becoming hidden/internalized.

Senzaika (becoming latent/hidden).

Häufige Kollokationen

被害を受ける

被害が出る

被害を及ぼす

被害を最小限に抑える

被害が拡大する

被害総額

被害届を出す

被害妄想

風評被害

甚大な被害

Häufige Phrasen

被害者

— A victim; a person who has suffered harm.

被害者の救済が急務だ。

被害届

— A report filed to the police regarding damage or crime.

盗難の被害届を提出した。

被害状況

— The status or extent of damage.

被害状況を調査している。

被害額

— The monetary value of the damage.

被害額は不明だ。

二次被害

— Secondary damage following an initial event.

二次被害の防止に努める。

被害想定

— Estimated damage for disaster planning.

最悪の被害想定を考える。

被害妄想

— Persecution complex; paranoia.

彼は被害妄想が激しい。

被害圏

— The area affected by damage.

被害圏は広がっている。

被害記録

— Records of damage sustained.

過去の被害記録を見る。

被害防止

— Prevention of damage.

被害防止対策を立てる。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

被害 vs 損害

Songai is for financial loss; Higai is for general harm.

被害 vs 公害

Kōgai is specifically environmental pollution caused by industry.

被害 vs 怪我

Kega is a physical injury to a person's body.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"被害を被る"

— A more formal way to say 'suffer damage'.

多大な被害を被った。

Formal

"被害を食い止める"

— To halt or check the spread of damage.

更なる被害を食い止める。

Neutral

"被害の矢面に立つ"

— To be at the forefront of the damage/attack.

彼は批判の被害の矢面に立った。

Literary

"被害を免れる"

— To escape or avoid damage.

奇跡的に被害を免れた。

Neutral

"被害を撒き散らす"

— To spread damage around (often used for pests or rumors).

害虫が被害を撒き散らす。

Neutral

"被害の爪痕"

— The scars or traces left by a disaster.

震災の被害の爪痕が残る。

Literary

"被害に遭う"

— To encounter/fall victim to damage or crime.

スリの被害に遭った。

Neutral

"被害を訴える"

— To report or complain about damage suffered.

住民が騒音被害を訴える。

Formal

"被害を最小化する"

— To minimize the damage.

システムの被害を最小化する。

Technical

"被害の全容"

— The full picture/extent of the damage.

被害の全容はまだ見えない。

Formal

Leicht verwechselbar

被害 vs 害 (Gai)

Both mean harm.

Gai is a general concept; Higai is the result of a specific incident.

害虫 (harmful bug) vs 害虫の被害 (damage from bugs).

被害 vs 弊害 (Heigai)

Both relate to negative impacts.

Heigai refers to systemic issues or bad side effects of a policy/system.

制度の弊害 (evils of the system).

被害 vs 損害 (Songai)

Often translated as 'damage'.

Songai is quantitative/financial; Higai is qualitative/experiential.

損害賠償 (compensation for loss).

被害 vs 被害者 (Higaisha)

Used interchangeably with victim.

Higaisha is the specific term; 'giseisha' is 'sacrifice/casualty'.

事件の被害者 (victim of the incident).

被害 vs 災害 (Saigai)

Both used in disasters.

Saigai is the disaster itself; Higai is the result of that disaster.

自然災害 (natural disaster).

Satzmuster

[N]の被害

雨の被害。

[N]で被害が出る

火事で被害が出た。

[N]の被害に遭う

詐欺の被害に遭う。

[N]に被害を及ぼす

健康に被害を及ぼす。

被害を最小限に抑える

被害を最小限に抑える努力をする。

[N]による被害総額

事故による被害総額。

被害の全容を解明する

被害の全容を解明する必要がある。

被害の潜在化を懸念する

被害の潜在化を懸念している。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

被害者 (Victim)

被害届 (Damage report)

加害 (Inflicting harm)

Verben

被害を受ける (To suffer damage)

被害を及ぼす (To cause damage)

Adjektive

被害的な (Victim-like/Defensive)

Verwandt

損害

災害

公害

利害

殺害

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in news and formal documents; moderate in daily speech.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'higai suru' to mean 'to damage'. → 壊す (kowasu) or 被害を与える (higai o ataeru).
Higai is a noun and cannot be turned into a verb with 'suru'.
Using 'higai' for a cut on your finger. → 怪我 (kega).
Higai is for larger incidents; kega is for physical body wounds.
Confusing 'higai' and 'saigai'. → Saigai is the event (disaster); Higai is the result (damage).
You suffer 'higai' from a 'saigai'.
Using 'higai' for business profit loss. → 損害 (songai).
Business and legal contexts prefer 'songai' for quantifiable loss.
Saying 'higai o morau'. → 被害を受ける (higai o ukeru).
'Morau' implies receiving a gift; 'ukeru' is for receiving impacts or actions.

Tipps

Disaster Awareness

In Japan, 'higai' is a word that triggers immediate concern. When you hear it on the news, pay attention to the location mentioned.

Verb Pairing

Always pair 'higai' with 'ukeru' (suffer), 'deru' (occur), or 'oyobosu' (cause). Avoid 'higai suru'.

Higaisha vs Kagaisha

Learn these as a pair: Higaisha (victim) and Kagaisha (perpetrator/assailant).

Quantifying Damage

Look for words like 'jindai' (enormous) or 'keibi' (minor) to understand the scale of 'higai' in news.

Insurance

If you have insurance in Japan, you will use 'higai' and 'songai' when filling out forms.

Empathy

Saying 'Higai wa arimasen deshita ka?' (Was there no damage?) is a kind way to check on someone after a storm.

Tech Harm

Use 'higai' for data leaks and hacking incidents in professional emails.

Reporting

Remember 'higai todoke' is the specific document you need if your property is stolen.

Paranoia

'Higai mōsō' is a useful term to describe someone who feels the world is out to get them.

Kanji Practice

Practice the radical '衣' (clothing) in '被' to remember that it 'covers' the subject.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'He-Guy' (Higai) who is always getting into trouble and receiving damage.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a house 'covered' (被) by a giant 'harmful' (害) cloud of smoke.

Word Web

Disaster Victim Storm Crime Loss Harm Accident Report

Herausforderung

Try to find three news headlines today that use the word '被害' and translate what kind of damage they are talking about.

Wortherkunft

Composed of two Sino-Japanese characters (Kanji). '被' (hi) means to cover or to receive, and '害' (gai) means harm or injury.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To be covered by or to receive harm.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using 'higaisha-ishiki' (victim mentality), as it can be dismissive of someone's genuine suffering.

English speakers often use 'damage' for objects and 'injury' for people. Japanese uses 'higai' for both in a general sense.

News reports on the Great East Japan Earthquake (Higashinihon Daishinsai). Godzilla movies where 'higai jōkyō' (damage status) is constantly reported. Legal dramas like 'Hero' or '99.9' focusing on 'higaisha' (victims).

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Natural Disasters

地震の被害
避難勧告
復旧作業
甚大な被害

Cyber Security

ウイルス被害
情報漏洩
不正アクセス
被害の拡大防止

Crime

被害届を出す
被害者のプライバシー
詐欺被害
窃盗被害

Agriculture

冷害の被害
塩害
害虫被害
不作

Business

風評被害
損害賠償
経済的被害
ブランド毀損

Gesprächseinstiege

"最近の台風で、あなたの家は被害がありませんでしたか？"

"ネット詐欺の被害に遭わないために、どんなことをしていますか？"

"風評被害をなくすには、どうすればいいと思いますか？"

"地震の被害を最小限にするための準備はできていますか？"

"ニュースで聞いた、一番ひどい被害の話は何ですか？"

Tagebuch-Impulse

もし自分の大切なものが被害を受けたら、どう対処しますか？

過去に経験した自然災害や事故の被害について書いてください。

風評被害が社会に与える影響について、あなたの考えを述べてください。

被害者を助けるためのボランティア活動について、どう思いますか？

新しいテクノロジーがもたらすかもしれない未知の被害について想像してください。

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Usually no. Use 'shitsuren' (heartbreak) or 'shokku' (shock). 'Higai' is too formal and objective.

Yes, 'higaisha' refers to people. For objects, just use 'higai'.

'Ukeru' is more neutral and common for disasters. 'Au' is common for crimes or accidents where you 'encounter' the trouble.

No, it is exclusively for negative harm or damage.

'被害を最小限に抑える' (Higai o saishōgen ni osaeru) is the standard phrase.

No. You cannot say 'higai suru'. You must use 'higai o ataeru' or 'higai o oyobosu'.

It is damage caused by rumors, such as people not buying fish from a certain area because they wrongly think it's contaminated.

Yes, 'uirusu no higai' is very common.

There is no direct opposite, but 'riekie' (profit) or 'anzen' (safety) are used in contrasting contexts.

You say '被害届を出したいです' (Higai todoke o dashitai desu).

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