<p>害 in <strong>杀害</strong> (kill; <strong>murder</strong>) means 'victimize'. You can only victimize creatures that have emotion, capable of feeling pain. '杀害' mostly refer to murder of human; And only killing of human can be deemed 'murder' </p>

<p><em>Note: only human intentionally killing other human is called 'murder' . A tiger killing a human is not a murder, but a killing</em> </p>

<p><strong>杀死</strong> (<strong>kill</strong> someone/ something <strong>dead</strong>) can apply to any living organism, from single cell bacteria to human</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-10T11:15:05.663Z
2019-07-10T11:27:02.817Z
2019-07-10T11:27:02.817Z
Tang Ho
<p>For most case, the <strong>杀害</strong> emphasizes on the <strong>purpose</strong>(the intention of killing), and the <strong>杀死</strong> emphasizes on the <strong>result</strong>:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>In <strong>杀害</strong>, the <code>杀</code> and <code>害</code> are both verb, and both meaning <strong>to kill</strong>, they almost have same meaning, just the <code>害</code> is more like <strong>make it suffer</strong>, so <strong>杀害</strong> shouldn't refers to plants, unless it's personified to suffer.</p></li>
<li><p>And in <strong>杀死</strong>, it means <strong>kill something dead</strong>, the <code>杀</code> is the <strong>kill</strong> part and <code>死</code> is the <strong>dead</strong> part, so it can refers to anything that is alive and <strong>can die</strong>, like plants in your case.</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-10T11:36:23.807Z
Thanks for the nice explanation, and welcome to the community :-)
MrVocabulary
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-10T11:33:05.617Z
2019-07-10T11:33:05.617Z
Windsting
<p>Just share some of my own understandings here.</p>

<p>杀死 and 杀害 are all verbs. 杀死了 and 杀害了 show results.</p>

<p>杀死 is just a statement of fact, but 杀害 is accompanied by human's emotions.(Most are pity and compassion emotions) </p>

<p>For example, a good leader is murdered by terrorists or a loyal minister is assassinated by  traitor. If you use 杀害, more expressive of your regret for the dead. If you use 杀死,just statements a fact without human emotions.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-11T02:16:47.263Z
2019-07-11T02:16:47.263Z
Jay Gong
<p>杀害 implies killer has bad intention while 杀死 just means to kill</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-11T21:47:38.280Z
2019-09-24T21:26:52.563Z
2019-09-24T21:26:52.563Z
wada
<p>I have tried browsing examples, but the only potential difference I see is that you can say "它也会杀死庄稼", but I am not sure if 杀害 also refers to plants.</p>

<vocabulary>
Is there a difference between 杀害 and 杀死?
# Is there a difference between 杀害 and 杀死?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-10)

I have tried browsing examples, but the only potential difference I see is that you can say "它也会杀死庄稼", but I am not sure if 杀害 also refers to plants.

**Tags:** vocabulary


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-07-10. Score: 6

害 in **杀害** (kill; **murder**) means 'victimize'. You can only victimize creatures that have emotion, capable of feeling pain. '杀害' mostly refer to murder of human; And only killing of human can be deemed 'murder'

*Note: only human intentionally killing other human is called 'murder' . A tiger killing a human is not a murder, but a killing*

**杀死** (**kill** someone/ something **dead**) can apply to any living organism, from single cell bacteria to human


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-07-10. Score: 5

For most case, the **杀害** emphasizes on the **purpose**(the intention of killing), and the **杀死** emphasizes on the **result**:

* In **杀害**, the `杀` and `害` are both verb, and both meaning **to kill**, they almost have same meaning, just the `害` is more like **make it suffer**, so **杀害** shouldn't refers to plants, unless it's personified to suffer.
* And in **杀死**, it means **kill something dead**, the `杀` is the **kill** part and `死` is the **dead** part, so it can refers to anything that is alive and **can die**, like plants in your case.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the nice explanation, and welcome to the community :-)  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-07-11. Score: 2

Just share some of my own understandings here.

杀死 and 杀害 are all verbs. 杀死了 and 杀害了 show results.

杀死 is just a statement of fact, but 杀害 is accompanied by human's emotions.(Most are pity and compassion emotions)

For example, a good leader is murdered by terrorists or a loyal minister is assassinated by traitor. If you use 杀害, more expressive of your regret for the dead. If you use 杀死,just statements a fact without human emotions.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-07-11. Score: 0

杀害 implies killer has bad intention while 杀死 just means to kill


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