1.
a concrete, material benefit (as opposed to something merely symbolic, emotional, or theoretical)
The actual, substantial gain one obtains from a decision, policy, or action. Stands in contrast to 名目 (nominal, in name only) or 名誉 (honor, prestige). Often used in business, politics, and practical decision-making contexts where the speaker wants to distinguish "real" benefits from superficial or theoretical ones.
Composed of 実 (real; actual) + 利 (profit; benefit). The pairing contrasts "real profit" with the purely nominal or symbolic, making 実利 a key term in pragmatic decision-making.
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERN — "実利 vs X":
実利 is very often contrasted explicitly with a non-material value:
- 実利 vs 名誉: practical benefit vs honor
- 実利 vs 体面: practical benefit vs saving face
- 実利 vs 理想: practical benefit vs ideals
- 実利 vs 建前: practical benefit vs the official position
A common rhetorical move is to claim one is choosing 実利 — signaling that one is being pragmatic and mature rather than stubbornly principled.
Common collocations
- 実利を取る: to take the practical benefit (often after contrasting it with something else)
- 実利を追求する: to pursue practical benefits
- 実利を得る: to obtain a practical benefit
- 実利がある: there is a practical benefit
- 実利重視: emphasis on practical benefits
- 実利主義: pragmatism; utilitarianism (informal sense)
- 実利的: practical; utilitarian
Similar words
- 利益: profit; benefit — the standard word for any kind of profit, including financial and abstract.
- 得: gain; worthwhileness — a conversational word for "getting something out of it."
- メリット: merit; upside — a katakana loanword meaning "benefit" or "advantage," very common in business speech.
- 実利: specifically the tangible, practical subset of benefits; emphasizes contrast with the non-material.
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Written and semi-formal. Common in editorials, business writing, and thoughtful commentary. In everyday conversation, speakers usually say 得 or use メリット.