These words all mean to have a bad effect on sb/sth. 以上各词均含伤害、损害之义。

• damage to cause physical harm to sth, making it less attractive, useful or valuable; to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success 指毁坏、破坏、伤害、损害：◆The fire badly damaged the town hall. 火灾使市政厅遭到严重破坏。◆emotionally damaged children 感情上受伤害的孩子
• hurt (rather informal) to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success 指伤害、损害：◆Hard work never hurt anyone. 努力工作绝无害处。
• harm to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success 指伤害、损害：◆Pollution can harm marine life. 污染会危及海洋生物。

damage, hurt or harm? 用 damage、hurt 还是 harm？

Hurt is slightly less formal than damage or harm, especially when it is used in negative statements. 与 damage 或 harm 相比，hurt 稍非正式，用于否定句时尤其如此：◆It won't hurt him to have to wait a bit. 等上一会儿对他无妨。◆It won't damage/harm him to have to wait a bit. Harm is also often used to talk about ways in which things in the natural world such as wildlife and the environment are affected by human activity. * harm 亦常用来表示自然界中的事物（如野生生物和环境）受到人类活动的影响。

• impair (rather formal) to damage sb's health, abilities or chances 指损害、削弱（健康、能力或机会）：◆Even one drink can impair driving performance. 即使一杯酒也可能影响驾驶操作。

Patterns

• to damage/hurt/harm/impair sb's chances
• to damage/hurt/harm sb's interests/reputation
• to damage/harm/impair sb's health
• to seriously/greatly damage/hurt/harm/impair sb/sth
• to badly/severely damage/hurt/impair sb/sth