Learn a Chinese Character - 利

1. Character Basics

Radical: 禾 (grain radical)

Stroke Count: 7

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lì (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Benefit; advantage; profit; interest; gain; sharp; favorable; good; beneficial; helpful; useful; advantageously; conveniently

4. Common Words

• 利益 (lìyì) - benefit; interest; profit
• 利用 (lìyòng) - to use; to utilize; to take advantage of
• 有利 (yǒulì) - beneficial; advantageous
• 胜利 (shènglì) - victory; success; triumph
• 利润 (lìrùn) - profit; margin; gain
• 顺利 (shùnlì) - smooth; successful; without difficulties
• 尖利 (jiānlì) - sharp; keen; acute
• 一本万利 (yīběnwànlì) - small investment, huge profit; high profit with little investment

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "利" has multiple meanings and usages, primarily related to benefit, advantage, profit, and sharpness. It can be used as a noun, adjective, or part of compound words.

Grammar Patterns:

• 作为名词: 利益 (benefit), 利润 (profit), 权利 (right)
• 作为形容词: 有利 (beneficial), 顺利 (smooth), 尖利 (sharp)
• 作为动词性语素: 利用 (to use), 利于 (to benefit), 利他 (altruistic)
• 四字成语: 一本万利 (high profit), 名利双收 (both fame and fortune), 见利忘义 (forget morality for profit)
• 常用搭配: 个人利益 (personal interests), 国家利益 (national interests), 互利共赢 (mutual benefit and win-win)

6. Cultural Background

The character "利" has profound cultural significance in Chinese society, reflecting values related to benefit, morality, and social harmony.

In Confucian philosophy, there is a famous debate about the relationship between "利" (profit/benefit) and "义" (righteousness/morality). Confucius taught that one should prioritize righteousness over personal profit, as expressed in the saying "君子喻于义，小人喻于利" (A gentleman understands righteousness; a petty person understands profit).

In Chinese business culture, the concept of "利" is balanced with other values. The idea of "互利共赢" (mutual benefit and win-win) is highly valued in business relationships.

The character is also used in many idioms that convey cultural wisdom, such as "一本万利" (small investment, huge profit) and "见利思义" (consider righteousness when seeing profit).

In traditional Chinese medicine, "利" is used to describe beneficial effects or functions of herbs and treatments.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "利" (lì) consists of two parts: the radical "禾" (grain) on the left and the component "刂" (knife) on the right.

To remember the character:

• Think of the connection between grain (禾) and a sharp knife (刂) - a sharp tool is beneficial for harvesting grain
• Notice that the character has 7 strokes
• Associate the character with common words like "利益" (benefit) and "利用" (to use) to reinforce its meaning and usage
• Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization
• Remember the cultural context about balancing profit and morality to deepen your understanding