harmful

/ˈhɑːmfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrmfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhärm-fəl/ (ame, mw)

harmful — adjective

  • harmfulpositive
  • more harmfulcomparative
  • most harmfulsuperlative

1. likely to cause physical damage, health problems, or other negative effects to a

1.形容詞B1
釋義

likely to cause physical damage, health problems, or other negative effects to a person, animal, or the environment

例句

Ada wears gloves when using the spray because the chemicals are harmful to her skin.

pattern: harmful to + body part / health

Kabir worried that the polluted air near the factory was harmful to his health.

collocation: harmful to health

同義詞
  • damaging

    stronger emphasis on physical or structural harm

  • dangerous

    broader meaning; implies risk of serious harm or injury

  • injurious

    more formal register; typically used in medical or legal contexts

  • detrimental

    formal; suggests long-term negative effects, often on health or progress

反義詞
  • harmless

    the direct opposite; does not cause harm

  • safe

    broader meaning; free from risk or danger

文法句型

harmful + noun

be + harmful + to + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly followed by the preposition 'to' to specify who or what is affected, as in harmful to health, harmful to the environment, or harmful to children.

常見錯誤

❌This food is harmful for your health.
✅This food is harmful to your health.
💡The correct preposition after 'harmful' is 'to', not 'for'.
❌He thinks the drug is harmless for patients.' (when meaning 'not harmful').
✅He thinks the drug is harmless to patients.
💡'Harmless' also takes 'to', not 'for'.