益
benefit, gain, profit, advantage
Readings
On'yomi
- エキ
- ヤク
Kun'yomi
- ま.す
Nanori
- まし
- ます
Meaning
益 centers on something added that improves a situation: a benefit, gain, profit, or advantage.
Most common words using 益
20 of 154- 利益りえきN2
profit; gains
- 益々ますますN3
increasingly; more and more; decreasingly (when declining); less and less
- 収益しゅうえきN1
earnings; proceeds; returns; revenue
- 益えき
benefit; use; good; advantage; gain
- 有益ゆうえきN1
beneficial; profitable; useful; helpful; instructive
- 公益こうえき
public interest; public benefit; public good
- 不利益ふりえきN1
disadvantage; handicap; drawback; inadvisability; inexpediency; loss
- 国益こくえき
national interest
- 権益けんえき
(one's) interests
- 損益そんえきN1
profit and loss; advantage and disadvantage
- 御利益ごりやく
divine grace; divine favour; blessing; answer to a prayer
- 受益じゅえき
benefitting by; benefiting by
- 無益むえきN1
useless; futile; vain
- 実益じつえき
actual profit; practical use; benefit
- 便益べんえき
convenience; benefit; profit
- 増益ぞうえき
increased (profit)
- 減益げんえき
decrease in profits
- 含み益ふくみえき
unrealized profit; paper profit; unrealized gains
- 共益きょうえき
common benefit; public good
- 差益さえき
marginal profits
Study
Etymology
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.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a dish (皿) with something extra piled on top, spilling over. That overflow is a gain or benefit—more than you started with.
Reading mnemonic
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.