noun
advantage; benefit; profit; interest
Broadly refers to a gain, benefit, or favorable outcome, often in contrast to 害 (harm). Common in compounds like 利益 (profit) and 利点 (advantage).
早起きは健康に利がある。
Waking up early has benefits for your health.
この計画には利もあれば害もある。
This plan has both advantages and disadvantages.
利益 is the more common compound for 'profit' or 'benefit', while 利 is often used in set phrases or as a bound element.
害 means 'harm' or 'damage' and is the direct antonym of 利 in many contexts.
The kanji 利 originally depicts a blade cutting grain, suggesting sharpness and utility, which extended to 'advantage' and 'profit'. The reading り is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi.