益 (yì) - benefit, profit, advantage & to increase, to add

益Tone 4

yì ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

一懿

益 · yì

benefit, profit, advantage;

to increase, to add;

beneficial, useful;

more, increasingly

benefit, profit, advantageto increase, to addbeneficial, useful

Usage highlights

benefitbeneficialpublic benefitprofitbenefit the peoplesupplement

Synonyms

  • 利— profit, advantage
  • 惠— favor, benefit
  • 裨— benefit, advantage

Antonyms

  • 损— harm, damage
  • 害— harm, injury
  • 弊— disadvantage, harm

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This is beneficial to health (有益健康).
  • The company's profits increased (利益增长).
  • He is an altruistic person (益人).
  • The more you practice, the better you get (益加熟练).

Collocations

  • benefit(利益)
  • beneficial(有益)
  • public benefit(公益)
  • profit(收益)
  • benefit the people(益民)
  • supplement(补益)

Idioms

  • Full of youthful vigor(朝气益盛)
  • Benefit the country and the people(益国益民)
  • Old and experienced(老当益壮)
  • Mutual benefit(相得益彰)
  • The more the better(多多益善)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a vessel overflowing with liquid, symbolizing abundance and increase.
  • In Confucianism, represents the ideal of benefiting others and society.
  • Commonly used in names to express wishes for prosperity and usefulness.

FAQ