坏处
huài chu · HSK 2
harm
⚠️ 坏处 = bad + place/aspect; the 'bad side' of something
坏 (huài) means bad or broken; 处 (chu/chù) means place, point, or aspect. Together they name the downsides, drawbacks, or harm of a thing — the opposite of 好处 (hǎochu, benefits).
坏 — earth 土 + 不 (not)
A modern simplified form. The left side 土 (earth) suggests something physical or material, while the right side 不 (not/negative) acts as a semantic hint meaning 'not good.' The traditional form 壞 used 褱 as a phonetic component, but the simplified 坏 reuses an older variant character.
处 — 夂 (foot) + 几 (low table/stool)
Originally depicted a person stopping (夂, an inverted foot) beside a stool (几), suggesting someone settling down in a place. From 'to dwell/stay' the meaning broadened to 'place, location' (chù) and 'to handle, deal with' (chǔ). The simplified form drops the older 虍 top found in 處.