利 (lì) — profit; interest (on money); advantage; benefit

Definition

利 (lì) covers the commercial sense of 'profit, interest, advantage.' Contrast with 害 (hài), which is the opposite — harm or disadvantage.

noun

profitinterest (on money)advantagebenefit

。
Quán héng lì bì cái néng zuò chū hǎo jué dìng.
Only by weighing advantages and disadvantages can you make a good decision.
。
Zhè cì dài kuǎn de lì xī bǐ shàng cì dī.
The interest for this loan is lower than last time.
。
Zhè ge xiàng mù néng dài lái jù dà de lì rùn.
This project can bring huge profits.

Compound ideograph

六书liùshū

会意huìyì

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.

Appears in