evil · abuse

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 弊 has 15 strokes and the on-reading へい. 弊害 (へいがい) concerns harmful consequences, while 疲弊 (ひへい) concerns exhaustion or depletion.
• Basic usage: 弊害 means harmful effects arising from a method or action; 疲弊 describes people or a community becoming exhausted or weakened.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Harmful effects and exhaustion
  • 過度な自動化の弊害 means the harmful effects of excessive automation. 思わぬ弊害が生じる means that unexpected problems arise.
  • 全員が疲弊していた means that everyone was exhausted. 町が疲弊していく describes a town gradually being devastated by conflict.