弊害

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 弊害 is read へいがい and refers to harmful effects arising from a practice or system.
• Basic usage: It is used to discuss negative consequences that may accompany even a convenient method.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• More than inconvenience
  • 不便 focuses on inconvenience, while 弊害 focuses on harmful effects. Something being difficult to use does not by itself always constitute 弊害.
• Common verbs
  • 弊害が生じる describes harmful effects arising.
  • 弊害を防ぐ describes preventing them.