利り

り

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

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).

早はや起おきは健けん康こうに利りがある。
Waking up early has benefits for your health.
この計けい画かくには利りもあれば害がいもある。
This plan has both advantages and disadvantages.

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Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉に利りがあるto be advantageous for someone
彼かれにとって、この取とり引ひきには大おおきな利りがある。
This deal is very advantageous for him.
利りを求もとめるto seek profit or advantage
商しょう人にんたちは利りを求もとめて各かく地ちを旅たびした。
The merchants traveled far and wide in search of profit.

Expressions· 8

地ちの利りlocational advantage; advantageous position
利りに走はしるpursue self-interest; be driven by profit
利りを得えるprofit; benefit from
漁ぎょ夫ふの利りprofiting while others fight; fisherman's profit
利りにさといkeenly aware of one's own interests; shrewd about personal gain

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有ゆう利りになるgain an advantage; become advantageous; turn the tables
無む理りが利きくcan handle strain; can take a lot
権けん利りを棄すてるabandon one's rights; waive a right; renounce a claim

Kanji

利profit, advantage, benefit

Related words

利り益えきN2
利益 is the everyday compound for 'profit/benefit', while 利 alone is a bound, more literary element usually found inside compounds or set phrases.
得とくN3
得 is a casual, everyday word for a personal gain or bargain, whereas 利 is more formal and often used in economic or abstract contexts.

Opposites

害がいN2
害 means 'harm' and is the standard opposite of 利 'benefit', as seen in the compound 利害 (advantages and disadvantages).

Don't confuse with

理り
利 and 理 share the same reading り but 利 means 'benefit/profit' while 理 means 'reason/logic', so learners must distinguish them by kanji and meaning, not sound.

Word family· 139

利り用ようN4
use; utilization; application
勝しょう利りN2
victory; triumph; win
権けん利りN3
right; privilege
便べん利りN5
convenient; handy; useful
利り益えきN2
profit; gains · benefit; advantage; good · grace; blessing; miracle

Show 25 more

有ゆう利りN3
advantageous; favorable; better; stronger · profitable; lucrative; gainful
不ふ利りN2
disadvantage; handicap; unfavorable position
金きん利りN1
interest rate; interest
利り点てんN1
advantage; merit; benefit
営えい利りN1
profit-making; commercial
利り便べん
convenience
利り己こ
self-interest; selfishness
利り害がいN2
advantages and disadvantages; interests
舎しゃ利り
Buddhist relics; cremated remains of a holy person · grain of rice; cooked rice
利り権けん
vested interest; rights; concession
利り子しN2
interest (on a deposit, loan, etc.)
砂利じゃりN1
gravel; ballast; pebbles · child; kid; rugrat
福ふく利り
welfare; well-being; benefits
利り口こうN3
clever; intelligent; bright; smart; wise; sensible; shrewd · well-behaved; obedient; good
利り息そくN2
interest (on a loan, deposit, etc.)
利り根こんN1
intelligence; cleverness; innate aptitude
利り上あげ
interest rate hike; increase in interest rates
利り回まわり
yield; return; interest rate
利り得とく
gain; profit; benefit; amplification
御ご利り益やく
divine grace; blessing; answer to a prayer · benefit; help
利り尿にょう
diuresis; urination; promoting urination
鋭えい利り
sharp; keen-edged; acute · keen; incisive; acute
利り他た
altruism
利り率りつN1
interest rate
一いち利り
one advantage; a single merit

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Written forms

利りUsage2%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news and common vocabulary.
りUsage98%

Etymology

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.