被害

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 被害 is read as ひがい and is a noun for damage, harm, or loss suffered because of an accident, disaster, crime, or similar cause.
• Basic usage: Occurrence appears in 被害が出る, while limiting its spread appears in 被害を広げない.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Result and affected party
  • It focuses on the harmful result rather than the damaging act; context identifies who or what suffered it.
• Difference from 損害
  • 損害 often stresses financial or property loss, while 被害 broadly covers harm to people, places, and the environment.