Which crime is characterized by causing physical harm to someone?

The crime characterized by causing physical harm to someone is assault. This offense involves intentionally inflicting bodily injury or threatening to do so, resulting in an individual experiencing fear of imminent harm or actual physical injury. The focus is on the direct interaction between the assailant and the victim, where physical harm is the primary element of the crime.

Robbery typically involves taking property from a person through force or intimidation but does not always result in physical harm. Burglary entails unlawfully entering a building with the intent to commit a crime inside, usually theft, and does not inherently involve harming a person. While child abuse also involves causing harm, it is a broader category that can include various types of mistreatment and does not specifically highlight the direct physical harm in the same way assault does. Thus, assault is the answer that aligns most closely with the criterion of physical harm.