benefit, gain, profit, advantage
益 centers on something added that improves a situation: a benefit, gain, profit, or advantage.
益 originally depicted water overflowing from a vessel (皿), conveying the idea of increase or surplus. The modern form retains 皿 at the bottom, with the upper part stylized from the overflowing water.
Picture a dish (皿) with something extra piled on top, spilling over. That overflow is a gain or benefit—more than you started with.
For エキ, imagine a liquid extract (エキス) dripping into the dish, adding value: エキス -> エキ, and the dish overflows with benefit.
profit; gains
increasingly; more and more; decreasingly (when declining); less and less
earnings; proceeds; returns; revenue
benefit; use; good; advantage; gain
beneficial; profitable; useful; helpful; instructive
public interest; public benefit; public good
disadvantage; handicap; drawback; inadvisability; inexpediency; loss
national interest
(one's) interests
profit and loss; advantage and disadvantage
divine grace; divine favour; blessing; answer to a prayer
benefitting by; benefiting by
useless; futile; vain
actual profit; practical use; benefit
convenience; benefit; profit
increased (profit)
decrease in profits
unrealized profit; paper profit; unrealized gains
common benefit; public good
marginal profits