有害
yoǔ hài · HSK 5
harmful
☠️ 有害 = have + harm; literally to possess harm, i.e. harmful
有 (yǒu) means to have or possess; 害 (hài) means harm or injury. Together they describe something that carries harm, so 有害 covers harmful, damaging, or destructive effects on health, environment, or society.
有 — hand 𠂇 + moon/meat 月
Originally depicted a hand holding a piece of meat (月 here is the 'meat' radical, not moon), expressing the idea of possessing something. Over time the meaning broadened from 'to hold/possess' to the general sense of 'to have' or 'there is/exists'.
害 — 宀 roof + 丯 (phonetic) + 口 mouth
Originally an ideograph showing harm spoken under a roof, with 宀 (roof/house) on top, a phonetic element 丯 in the middle, and 口 (mouth) below suggesting harmful speech. Over time it shifted from 'injury caused by words' to the broader senses of 'harm,' 'injure,' and 'fear.'