益(えき)

益(えき) means benefit, profit, or advantage. Often appears in compound words rather than standalone.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

• 利益(りえき): profit, benefit, gain
• 有益(ゆうえき): beneficial, useful, instructive
• 無益(むえき): useless, futile, pointless
• 公益(こうえき): public interest, common good
• 収益(しゅうえき): earnings, proceeds
• 損益(そんえき): profit and loss
• 実益(じつえき): practical benefit

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

• 益々(ますます): more and more, increasingly
• 益(えき)になる: to be beneficial
• 益(えき)がある: there is benefit
• 益(えき)がない: there is no benefit

WORD FORMATION:
The kanji 益(えき) carries the meaning of "increase" or "profit." It appears in many formal and business contexts.

RELATED WORDS:

• 得(とく): gain, advantage (everyday)
• 利点(りてん): advantage, merit
• 利(り): profit, benefit