利

lì
#155 most
frequent character
sharp, favourable, advantage
adjective
noun

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

利 shows grain 禾 and a knife 刂, so it first meant 'to harvest grain'. From harvesting came 'benefit' and 'profit'. The sense 'sharp' comes from the blades used for the harvest.

Drawn as: grain and knife

利 as a component in other characters

sound9 characters
莉梨犁俐痢蜊猁脷唎
picture1 character
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Example Sentences

这把刀非常利。
zhè bǎ dāo fēicháng lì 。
This knife is very sharp.
他选择了一个对他未来有利的机会。
tā xuǎnzé le yígè duì tā wèilái yǒulì de jīhuì 。
He chose an opportunity that is favorable for his future.
这项投资给我带来了很大的利。
zhèxiàng tóuzī gěi wǒ dàilái le hěndà de lì 。
This investment has brought me a significant profit.

Words with similar meanings

锋利fēnglì
sharp
More specific to physical sharpness, often used for blades.
有利yǒulì
favorable
A direct synonym, often used in contexts of advantage or benefit.
利益lìyì
benefit
Refers more to the outcome or profit side of being favorable.

Words Starting With 利

利息lì xī
interest (on a loan)
利润lì rùn
profits
利用lì yòng
exploit; make use of; to use; to take advantage of; to utilize
利益lì yì
benefit; (in sb's) interest
利害lì hài
pros and cons; advantages and disadvantages; gains and losses

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