The words "injure" and "hurt" are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between them. Generally, "injure" implies a more serious physical harm, often resulting in some lasting damage or requiring medical attention. "Hurt," on the other hand, can refer to a wider range of physical or emotional pain, which can be minor and temporary.

Here's a breakdown of the key differences:

Severity:

• Injure: Typically implies a more significant injury. For example, "He injured his knee playing football" means a potentially serious injury that might need treatment. (He injured his knee playing football. This means he might need medical attention.)
• Hurt: Can refer to minor injuries, such as "I hurt my finger while chopping vegetables." (I hurt my finger while chopping vegetables. This was a small, temporary injury.)

Type of Harm:

• Injure: Mostly used for physical harm, often implying damage to a body part.
• Hurt: Can be used for both physical and emotional harm. For example, "Her words hurt me deeply" refers to emotional pain. (Her words hurt me deeply. This refers to emotional pain, not a physical injury.)

Formal vs. Informal:

• Injure: Sounds more formal than "hurt."
• Hurt: Is more commonly used in everyday conversation.

Here are some more examples:

• "The accident injured several people." (The accident injured several people. This implies serious injuries.)
• "I hurt my back lifting that heavy box." (I hurt my back lifting that heavy box. This implies a less serious injury, possibly temporary.)
• "The news really hurt her." (The news really hurt her. This refers to emotional pain.)
• "He injured his reputation by lying." (He injured his reputation by lying. This refers to damage to something non-physical.)

Remember that while there are distinctions, sometimes the words are used almost interchangeably, especially in casual speech. The context will usually make the meaning clear. Happy learning!