1.
injury; bodily harm; physical damage
Physical injury or harm to the body. Used in both general and medical contexts.
事故で傷害を負った。
I sustained injuries in the accident.
傷害保険に加入しておいたほうがいい。
You should get injury insurance.
熱中症による健康傷害を防ぐために、こまめに水分を取ろう。
Let's drink water frequently to prevent health damage from heatstroke.
2.
assault; inflicting bodily harm (legal)
In legal contexts, the crime of deliberately causing physical injury to another person. A key term in Japanese criminal law.
傷害罪で逮捕された。
He was arrested for assault.
傷害事件の容疑者が出頭した。
The suspect in the assault case turned himself in.
傷害致死罪は、暴行の結果相手が死亡した場合に適用される。
The crime of assault resulting in death is applied when the victim dies as a result of violence.
An important word with both general and legal uses. In everyday use it refers to physical injury; in news and legal contexts it refers to the crime of assault causing bodily harm.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 傷害罪: crime of assault, assault charge
- 傷害事件: assault case
- 傷害保険: injury insurance, accident insurance
- 傷害致死: assault resulting in death
- 傷害を負う: to sustain an injury
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 障害: disability; obstacle — same pronunciation but different kanji and meaning
- 負傷: injury, wound — similar to sense 1 but more commonly used for wounds from accidents or combat
- 暴行: assault, violence — the act of violence itself, regardless of whether injury results
NOTE:
Careful not to confuse with 障害 (disability/obstacle), which is a homophone. The kanji 傷 (wound) versus 障 (barrier) distinguishes them in writing.