injure

injure — verb

1. to cause bodily damage or harm to a living person, animal, or part of the body —

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to cause bodily damage or harm to a living person, animal, or part of the body — often because of an accident, a fall, or a violent act.

例句

Erik injured his ankle while running on the uneven trail near his house.

collocation: injure + body part

The bus driver was seriously injured in the crash on the highway.

passive: be seriously injured in [event]

同義詞
  • hurt

    more general and less formal; can be used for both physical and emotional pain

  • wound

    implies breaking the skin or tissue, often by a weapon; suggests intentional harm

  • harm

    broader in scope; includes long-term or non-visible damage to health or well-being

反義詞
  • heal

    to make a wound or injury healthy again

文法句型

injure + someone/something

injure + body part

be/get injured (passive)

用法筆記

Frequently used in passive constructions (be injured / get injured). The object is always a living being or a body part — never an inanimate object (❌ 'The storm injured the house').

常見錯誤

❌The storm injured several houses near the beach.
✅The storm damaged several houses near the beach.
💡Use 'damage' for objects and buildings; 'injure' is for living beings.

2. to cause emotional, social, or professional harm to someone — for example, by da

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to cause emotional, social, or professional harm to someone — for example, by damaging their public image, their sense of pride, their trust in others, or their prospects of success.

例句

Hui was deeply injured by the unfair comments her classmates made about her work.

passive: be injured by [hurtful action]

A false news story injured the company's good name and drove customers away.

同義詞
  • damage

    more common for abstract things like reputation or trust; not used for emotional hurt

  • hurt

    covers emotional pain more naturally and in a less formal register

  • harm

    broader; can refer to interests, prospects, or relationships without specifying how

反義詞
  • repair

    to restore a relationship or reputation after damage

文法句型

injure + someone's reputation/feelings/interests/chances

用法筆記

More formal than 'hurt'. Used for measurable harm to reputation, interests, or relationships rather than for minor emotional hurts between friends. The passive is common (be injured by + cause).

常見錯誤

❌I injured my brother's feelings when I forgot his birthday.
✅I hurt my brother's feelings when I forgot his birthday.
💡For everyday emotional hurts between friends or family, 'hurt' sounds more natural; 'injure' is too formal and dramatic for minor situations.