益

yì

䒑 + 八 + 皿

Definitions

yì (verb) to increase; to add

yì (noun) benefit; advantage; interest

yì (verb) to benefit

Etymology

Depicts food or drink filling up a container (皿). Based on the original meaning "overflow", now written as 溢. The meaning later shifted to "increase" and "benefit".

About

益 depicts a vessel 皿 with a top element derived from 水 'water,' representing liquid (food or drink) that rises and overflows its container. The original meaning was "overflow", a sense now written 溢. From this image of overflowing, the character developed broader abstract notions of abundance and surplus, and its primary meanings shifted to "increase" and "benefit". It also functions as an adverb meaning "increasingly", echoing the continuous accumulation implied by the original overflowing liquid.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

运动对身体有益。

Yùndòng duì shēntǐ yǒuyì.

Exercise is beneficial for the body.

学习新知识有益头脑。

Xuéxí xīn zhīshì yǒuyì tóunǎo.

Learning new knowledge is beneficial for the mind.

环保行为对地球有益。

Huánbǎo xíngwéi duì dìqiú yǒuyì.

Environmental protection behaviors are beneficial for the Earth.

经常阅读有益于提高词汇量。

Jīngcháng yuèdú yǒuyì yú tígāo cíhuìliàng.

Frequent reading is beneficial for increasing vocabulary.

均衡饮食对健康大有裨益。

Jūnhéng yǐnshí duì jiànkāng dà yǒu bìyì.

A balanced diet is greatly beneficial for health.

这项政策旨在增进公共利益。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè zhǐ zài zēngjìn gōnggòng lìyì.

This policy aims to promote public interest.

通过合作，双方都能获得利益。

Tōngguò hézuò, shuāngfāng dōu néng huòdé lìyì.

Through cooperation, both parties can gain benefits.

从长远来看，投资教育益处多。

Cóng chángyuǎn lái kàn, tóuzī jiàoyù yìchù duō.

From a long-term perspective, investing in education has many benefits.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 䒑

Component: 八

Component: 皿

Example Words