How to Write 利 (lì) — Meaning “Benefit or profit.”

Picture a farmer using a knife (刂) to harvest ripe grain (禾), and the harvest gives him a profit. This visual of cutting grain for gain helps you remember that 利 means benefit or profit.

Write the left side 禾 first, with the vertical stroke passing through the middle, then the right side 刂 starting with a short vertical stroke and ending with a vertical hook. Keep the left part slightly narrower than the right to maintain balance.

刊 (kān) means 'to publish' or 'carve' and has 干 on the left instead of 禾. 刎 (wěn) means 'to cut one's throat' and uses 勿 on the left. In contrast, 利's left component 禾 (grain) focuses on agricultural benefit, not publishing or cutting.

利 appears in common words like 顺利 (smoothly) and 利用 (to use), and in business terms such as 利益 (benefit/profit). Culturally, it reflects the idea that hard work, like harvesting grain, brings practical rewards.

Common words containing 利 include: 顺利 (shùn lì) — smoothly; successfully; 利用 (lì yòng) — To use or exploit.; 利益 (lì yì) — Interest or benefit..