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March 24, 2026
益yì(Yi4)
益 (yì) primarily refers to benefits or advantages gained from something. It can denote profit in a business context, as well as the act of adding to or increasing something positively. Commonly used in both formal and informal settings, it conveys a sense of enhancement or improvement.
Strokes10Radical皿Frequency#16967DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 益 is often used to describe therapies that not only treat ailments but also enhance overall health, illustrating a holistic approach to well-being.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tree (木) growing taller and bearing more fruit (益) with every passing season. The character '益' has a radical resembling a tree, symbolizing growth and benefits. Picture a farmer happily counting the increased harvest, which helps you remember 'yì' means to benefit or gain.
Meanings of 益
yì(Yi4)
1benefit
2profit
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 益
益Simplified
10Strokes
皿Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#16967Frequency Rank
Podcast: 益
Podcast: 益
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AI Study Notes for 益
Quick Contrast
利 (lì) - use 益 (yì) when emphasizing the benefits gained, while 利 (lì) often refers more specifically to profit or advantage in a financial context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tree (木) growing taller and bearing more fruit (益) with every passing season. The character '益' has a radical resembling a tree, symbolizing growth and benefits. Picture a farmer happily counting the increased harvest, which helps you remember 'yì' means to benefit or gain.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 益 with 利 (lì), which also means profit but is more related to personal gain. '益' is generally used in contexts involving collective benefits or improvements. Be mindful of tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 益 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other words that convey benefits, such as 利 (lì) and 好处 (hǎochù). Focus on using 益 in sentences to describe situations where something improves or adds value, enhancing your vocabulary on advantages and benefits.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 益 is often used to describe therapies that not only treat ailments but also enhance overall health, illustrating a holistic approach to well-being.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 益 in contexts where 利 would be more appropriate, such as saying '这个投资很益' instead of '这个投资很利'. Also, mixing up tones can lead to misunderstandings; ensure you pronounce it with the fourth tone to convey the correct meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 益
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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".
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Grammar Patterns of 益
益 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The growing problem is underlined in the latest issue of the Lancet.
10
一杯红酒有益健康。
yī bēi hóng jiǔ yǒu yì jiàn kāng。
A glass of red wine keeps you in the pink.
Cultural Notes for 益
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 益 is often used to describe therapies that not only treat ailments but also enhance overall health, illustrating a holistic approach to well-being.
Word Family of 益
Compounds18
溢yi4full; overflowing
隘ai4pass
缢yi4to hang; to strangle
谥shi4posthumous name or title
搤
嗌ai4throat; to quarrel, to choke
艗
镒yi4a measure of weight used for gold
塧
榏
獈
縊yi4to hang; to strangle
膉
螠
謚shi4posthumous name or title
貖
賹
齸
Words Containing This Character20
利益lìyìbenefit
收益shōuyìearnings
权益quányìrights權益
有益yǒuyìuseful
受益shòuyìprofit
日益rìyìday by day
效益xiàoyìbenefit
公益gōngyìpublic good
益yìbenefit
收益率earnings rate
益处yìchùbenefit益處
获益to profit from sth獲益
得益to derive benefit
无益no good無益
受益匪浅to benefit (from)受益匪淺
良师益友good teacher and helpful friend (idiom); mentor良師益友
益智to grow the intellect
多多益善the more the better
精益求精jīngyìqiújīngto perfect sth that is already outstanding (idiom); constantly improving
损益profit and loss損益
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 溢 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 益
While both can mean profit or benefit, 益 focuses more on collective advantages and improvements, whereas 利 often emphasizes personal or financial gain.
You can say '这个项目对公司有很大的益处' (This project is very beneficial for the company).
Yes, it is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing advantages or improvements.
