益 icon

increase, benefit

is composed of a variant of (water) and (container). It associationally conveys water being so full that it overflows from the container. The original meaning of is to overflow, which was later represented by . Today, represents to increase, benefit, or gain.

Vocabulary of 益

  • 益處 (benefit)
  • 公益 (public welfare)
  • 收益 (earnings)

Related Characters: