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有利于 (yǒu lì yú) — to be advantageous to; to be beneficial for

Definition

Used to state that one thing is good for or helps another (a policy, an action, a habit). Unlike a simple adjective like 好, it takes the beneficiary directly as its object — 'A 有利于 B' means A benefits B.

verb
to be advantageous toto be beneficial for

Examples

  • 有利于。
    Chōng zú de shuì mián yǒu lì yú jiàn kāng.
    Adequate sleep is beneficial for health.
  • 有利于。
    Duō yùn dòng yǒu lì yú bǎo chí shēn tǐ jiàn kāng.
    More exercise helps maintain physical health.
  • 有利于。
    Zhè ge zhèng cè yǒu lì yú jīng jì fā zhǎn.
    This policy is advantageous to economic development.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

有利have benefit
有yǒuhave利lìbenefit
动宾Verb + object
于yútoward

“有利” means having benefit, and “于” means toward something, so it means beneficial to that thing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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