益 means “profit, benefit”

えき · eki

Also: gain, advantage

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ます

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エキ, ヤク

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 10 strokes

The story

Water turned on its side (the strokes on top) spilling over a dish (皿): 益 began as a bowl brimming over, the original of 溢れる. Overflow means gain: 利益 is profit, 有益 useful, and shrines promise ご利益, blessings.

Used in 利益 (rieki, profit), 有益 (yuueki, beneficial), and ご利益 (goriyaku, divine blessing)

More from Money & Markets

• 債 debt
• 需 demand
• 購 buy
• 蓄 store up
• 卸 sell wholesale
• 幣 money
• 款 article
• 価 price
• 株 shares
• 融 melt

Learn 益 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.