Meaning & readings
benefit, gain, profit, advantage
On’yomi エキ、ヤク
Kun’yomi ま.す
Nanori まし、ます
Origin
This character most likely combines the idea of water flowing into a container to show something increasing or accumulating. The upper part resembles a vessel or opening, while the lower strokes suggest liquid or material being added. When something is added or increases, it creates a benefit or gain — the core meaning of this character. Over time, the pictorial form became more abstract and stylized into the modern kanji shape we see today.
AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Pictographic or simple.
Components
This character is treated as a single, undivided shape (益).
Common words
Reference
- Strokes
- 10
- Kangxi radical
- 108
- Grade
- Grade 5 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #674 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 1
- Unicode
- U+076CA