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功利 (gōng lì) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

功利 (gōng lì) is a Chinese word: utility; utilitarianism. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 功利

名 míng noun

utility; utilitarianism

我们不应该用功利的眼光看待教育。

wǒ men bù yīng gāi yòng gōng lì de yǎn guāng kàn dài jiào yù

We shouldn't view education from a utilitarian perspective.

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Word breakdown

功 gōng — merit, achievement, work (practical accomplishment aspect)

Words with this character (16)
Show more (+11)

利 lì — benefit, profit, advantage (self-interested gain aspect)

Words with this character (31)
Show more (+26)
  • 6 利润 lì rùn — profit HSK 5
    • 利 benefit, advantage
    • 润 profit, gain
    Example

    这家公司去年的利润很高。

    zhè jiā gōng sī qù nián de lì rùn hěn gāo

    This company's profit last year was very high.

  • 7 利用 lì yòng — to utilize, to make use of HSK 5
    • 利 benefit, advantage
    • 用 to use, to employ
    Example

    他利用空闲时间学习中文。

    tā lì yòng kōng xián shí jiān xué xí zhōng wén

    He uses his free time to study Chinese.

  • 8 利益 lì yì — interest HSK 5
    • 利 profit, advantage, benefit
    • 益 benefit, advantage, gain
    Example

    他总是把个人利益放在第一位。

    tā zǒng shì bǎ gè rén lì yì fàng zài dì yī wèi

    He always puts personal interests first.

  • 9 有利 yǒu lì — advantageous HSK 5
    • 有 to have/possess
    • 利 benefit/advantage
    Example

    这个位置对我们很有利。

    zhè ge wèi zhì duì wǒ men hěn yǒu lì

    This position is very advantageous for us.

  • 10 权利 quán lì — right HSK 5
    • 权 authority, power
    • 利 benefit, interest
    Example

    每个公民都有言论自由的权利。

    měi gè gōng mín dōu yǒu yán lùn zì yóu de quán lì

    Every citizen has the right to freedom of speech.

  • 11 胜利 shèng lì — victory HSK 5
    • 胜 to win, to be victorious
    • 利 advantage, favorable outcome
    Example

    我们队取得了胜利。

    wǒ men duì qǔ dé le shèng lì

    Our team achieved victory.

  • 12 专利 zhuān lì — patent HSK 6
    • 专 exclusive, special
    • 利 right, benefit
    Example

    他申请了一项新的专利。

    tā shēn qǐng le yī xiàng xīn de zhuān lì

    He applied for a new patent.

  • 13 利息 lì xī — interest HSK 6
    • 利 profit, benefit, advantage (the financial gain aspect)
    • 息 income, dividend, growth (the accumulation aspect)
    Example

    他每月要付很多利息。

    tā měi yuè yào fù hěn duō lì xī

    He has to pay a lot of interest every month.

  • 14 福利 fú lì — welfare HSK 6
    • 福 fortune, happiness, well-being
    • 利 benefit, advantage, interest
    Example

    公司提供很好的福利待遇。

    gōng sī tí gōng hěn hǎo de fú lì dài yù

    The company provides very good welfare benefits.

  • 15 利害 lì hài — advantages and disadvantages HSK 7
    • 利 advantage, benefit
    • 害 disadvantage, harm
    Example

    我们需要考虑这个决定的利害。

    wǒ men xū yào kǎo lǜ zhè ge jué dìng de lì hài

    We need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of this decision.

  • 16 利弊 lì bì — advantages and disadvantages HSK 7
    • 利 advantage, benefit
    • 弊 disadvantage, drawback
    Example

    我们需要仔细考虑这个计划的利弊。

    wǒ men xū yào zǐ xì kǎo lǜ zhè ge jì huà de lì bì

    We need to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of this plan.

  • 17 利率 lì lǜ — interest rate HSK 7
    • 利 interest (profit from lending or depositing money)
    • 率 rate (proportional measure)
    Example

    银行的利率上涨了。

    yín háng de lì lǜ shàng zhǎng le

    The bank's interest rate has increased.

  • 18 利索 lì suo — agile HSK 7
    • 利 sharp, efficient
    • 索 neat, orderly
    Example

    这个小伙子手脚利索。

    zhè ge xiǎo huǒ zi shǒu jiǎo lì suo

    This young man is quick and efficient.

  • 19 吉利 jí lì — auspicious HSK 7
    • 吉 auspicious, lucky
    • 利 favorable, beneficial
    Example

    他选了一个吉利的日子举行婚礼。

    tā xuǎn le yí gè jí lì de rì zi jǔ xíng hūn lǐ

    He chose an auspicious day to hold his wedding.

  • 20 名利 míng lì — fame and fortune HSK 7
    • 名 fame, reputation, renown
    • 利 profit, benefit, material gain
    Example

    他不在乎名利，只想做自己喜欢的事。

    tā bù zài hu míng lì zhǐ xiǎng zuò zì jǐ xǐ huan de shì

    He doesn't care about fame and fortune, he just wants to do what he likes.

  • 21 失利 shī lì — to suffer a defeat HSK 7
    Example

    我们队在决赛中失利了。

    wǒ men duì zài jué sài zhōng shī lì le

    Our team suffered a defeat in the finals.

  • 22 急功近利 jí gōng jìn lì — eager for quick success and instant benefit HSK 7
    • 急 urgent, hasty, impatient
    • 功 success, achievement, merit
    • 近 near, close, immediate
    • 利 profit, benefit, advantage
    Example

    做生意不能急功近利，要着眼长远。

    zuò shēng yi bù néng jí gōng jìn lì yào zhuó yǎn cháng yuǎn

    In doing business, one cannot be eager for quick success and instant benefit; one must focus on the long term.

  • 23 损人利己 sǔn rén lì jǐ — benefit oneself at others' expense HSK 7
    • 损 harm, damage, injure
    • 人 others, other people
    • 利 benefit, profit, advantage
    • 己 oneself, self
    Example

    他总是损人利己，从不考虑别人的感受。

    tā zǒng shì sǔn rén lì jǐ cóng bù kǎo lǜ bié rén de gǎn shòu

    He always benefits himself at others' expense and never considers their feelings.

  • 24 暴利 bào lì — exorbitant profit HSK 7
    • 暴 excessive, extreme
    • 利 profit, gain
    Example

    这家公司通过垄断市场获得了暴利。

    zhè jiā gōng sī tōng guò lǒng duàn shì chǎng huò dé le bào lì

    This company obtained exorbitant profits through monopolizing the market.

  • 25 水利 shuǐ lì — water conservancy HSK 7
    • 水 water
    • 利 beneficial use, management
    Example

    政府投资建设水利工程。

    zhèng fǔ tóu zī jiàn shè shuǐ lì gōng chéng

    The government invests in building water conservancy projects.

  • 26 犀利 xī lì — sharp; incisive HSK 7
    • 犀 intensifier; extremely (from rhinoceros, suggesting extreme sharpness)
    • 利 sharp; keen
    Example

    他的评论非常犀利。

    tā de píng lùn fēi cháng xī lì

    His comments are very sharp.

  • 27 盈利 yíng lì — profit HSK 7
    • 盈 surplus, full
    • 利 benefit, gain
    Example

    公司今年开始盈利了。

    gōng sī jīn nián kāi shǐ yíng lì le

    The company started making profit this year.

  • 28 红利 hóng lì — dividend HSK 7
    • 红 prosperity/profit (red symbolizes good fortune in Chinese culture)
    • 利 profit, benefit, gain
    Example

    公司今年发放了丰厚的红利。

    gōng sī jīn nián fā fàng le fēng hòu de hóng lì

    The company distributed generous dividends this year.

  • 29 营利 yíng lì — to make profit HSK 7
    • 营 to operate, to manage (business)
    • 利 profit, benefit
    Example

    这家公司不以营利为目的。

    zhè jiā gōng sī bù yǐ yíng lì wéi mù dì

    This company does not aim to make profit.

  • 30 见利忘义 jiàn lì wàng yì — to forsake justice for personal gain HSK 7
    • 见 to see, to encounter
    • 利 profit, benefit, gain
    • 忘 to forget, to neglect
    • 义 righteousness, justice, loyalty
    Example

    那个商人见利忘义，出卖了朋友的商业秘密。

    nà ge shāng rén jiàn lì wàng yì chū mài le péng you de shāng yè mì mì

    That businessman forsook justice for personal gain and betrayed his friend's business secrets.

  • 31 锋利 fēng lì — sharp HSK 7
    • 锋 blade edge, sharp point
    • 利 sharp, keen (cutting ability)
    Example

    小心，这些工具都很锋利。

    xiǎo xīn zhè xiē gōng jù dōu hěn fēng lì

    Be careful, these tools are all very sharp.

Structure & writing
1 功 gōng — merit; achievement (opposite of 过)

功 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 工 gōng — worker; working class
工 is a component in 19 characters
HSK 2
红 hóng red (color like fresh blood)
HSK 3
差 chā mistake; error 空 kōng empty; hollow; impractical 轻 qīng light in weight; low in density (opposite of '重')
HSK 4
功 gōng merit; achievement (opposite of 过) 巧 qiǎo clever and skillful; ingenious 式 shì shape or form of an object 江 jiāng a large river 项 xiàng (lit.) back of the neck/nape
HSK 5
贡 gòng to offer tribute to the imperial court
HSK 6
巩 gǒng firm, solid 径 jìng narrow path; footpath 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend' 虹 hóng rainbow (colorful arc in the sky after rain, with seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
HSK 7
扛 káng to carry on one's shoulder (without tools) 杠 gàng thick rod or pole 毁 huǐ to destroy; to ruin 缸 gāng large container (jar, vat, or crock) with a narrow base and wide mouth, made of pottery, porcelain, enamel, or glass 诬 wū to falsely accuse; to slander with fabricated facts
1.2 力 lì — force (physical interaction between objects causing acceleration or deformation)
力 is a component in 32 characters
HSK 1
男 nán male (opposite of "female") 边 biān border between countries or regions
HSK 2
为 wéi to do; to act 动 dòng to move; to change position or leave a state of rest (opposite of '静')
HSK 3
办 bàn to handle; to deal with 加 jiā to add together; to combine two or more things or numbers 务 wù affair; matter 助 zhù to help, to assist 努 nǔ to exert (strength) to the utmost
Show more HSK 3 characters (+1)
历 lì to experience; to go through
HSK 4
功 gōng merit; achievement (opposite of 过) 励 lì to encourage; to strive 勇 yǒng brave and bold, unafraid of danger or difficulty 另 lìng other; another
HSK 5
劝 quàn to persuade; to convince someone by presenting facts and reasoning 劳 láo to labor; human activity of creating material or spiritual wealth 势 shì apparent form or condition: ① natural phenomenon or situation in nature; ② posture or gesture of movement; ③ situation or circumstances in political, military, or social affairs 勤 qín diligent; hardworking (opposite of lazy) 幼 yòu young; immature (opposite of 老)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
穷 qióng poor, impoverished (opposite of 富)
HSK 6
劣 liè inferior, bad (opposite of 优) 勉 miǎn to strive; to exert oneself 抛 pāo to throw; to toss
HSK 7
劫 jié to rob; to plunder 勃 bó (lit.) thriving; vigorous 勋 xūn distinguished merit; special achievement 勒 lēi bind or loop with a rope and pull tight 勘 kān to proofread and verify; to collate
Show more HSK 7 characters (+4)
募 mù to recruit or solicit broadly (funds, troops, etc.) 夯 hāng a rammer or tamper used to compact foundations (wooden, stone, or iron) 筋 jīn tendon or ligament connecting muscle to bone 虏 lǔ to capture (in battle)

Stroke order

2 利 lì — sharp; keen (opposite of 'blunt')
利 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 5
梨 lí pear tree, a deciduous tree or shrub with five-petaled white flowers and oval leaves
HSK 7
莉 lì see "茉莉" — an evergreen shrub with oval or elliptical glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers, used ornamentally, for scenting tea, and medicinally

consists of

2.1 禾 hé — rice seedling; rice plant
禾 is a component in 37 characters
HSK 1
和 hé harmonious; peaceful 租 zū to rent, pay to use something for an agreed period
HSK 3
季 jì the youngest among brothers (伯, 仲, 叔, 季 denoting birth order) 秋 qiū autumn; fall (third season of the year) 种 zhǒng species, the basic unit of biological classification, below genus 香 xiāng fragrant; pleasant-smelling (opposite of 臭)
HSK 4
乘 chéng to ride; to travel by (vehicle or animal) 利 lì sharp; keen (opposite of 'blunt') 秀 xiù (of plants) to put forth flowers or ears, especially crops 科 kē category of academic discipline, course, or field of work 秒 miǎo awn on grain husks
Show more HSK 4 characters (+3)
积 jī to accumulate gradually 程 chéng rules; regulations 稍 shāo slightly; a little
HSK 5
私 sī private; personal (opposite of 公) 秘 mì secret; not made public 称 chēng to call; to be called 移 yí to move; to shift 税 shuì tax; duties levied by the government
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
稳 wěn stable; steady
HSK 6
委 wěi winding, tortuous; euphemistic 秩 zhì (lit.) orderly; well-organized 稻 dào rice plant (annual grass with narrow leaves; staple crop in China, mainly paddy rice) 稼 jia to plant (grain crops) 稿 gǎo draft or manuscript of a poem, essay, drawing, etc.
Show more HSK 6 characters (+2)
菌 jūn microorganism (bacteria, fungi, mold, etc.); esp. pathogenic bacteria 颖 yǐng awn-bearing husk of certain grasses (e.g. rice, wheat)
HSK 7
秃 tū bald (of a person's head); bare of feathers or fur (of an animal's head or tail) 秉 bǐng (lit.) to hold; to grasp 秤 chèng weighing scale or balance (including steelyard, platform scale, spring scale, etc.); especially a steelyard 秧 yāng seedling of a plant, especially rice seedling 秽 huì dirty; unclean
Show more HSK 7 characters (+5)
稀 xī rare; scarce; few 稚 zhì (dial.) late-planted crops 稠 chóu thick; viscous (of liquid, opposite of 稀) 稽 jī to stay; to tarry 酥 sū food made from the skin of curdled cow's or goat's milk; clarified butter (ancient usage)
2.2 刂 dāo — knife/blade radical (right-side form)
刂 is a component in 38 characters
HSK 1
到 dào to arrive; to reach 前 qián front; the direction one faces (opposite of 后) 师 shī teacher; instructor (one who imparts knowledge or skills) 班 bān a group organized for work or study
HSK 2
别 bié to part; to separate
HSK 3
刚 gāng hard; firm (opposite of "soft") 刮 guā to scrape (a surface with a knife or similar tool to remove something) 刷 shuā brush (a tool made of bristles, palm fiber, etc. for cleaning or applying substances) 刻 kè to carve or engrave patterns or characters on bamboo, wood, jade, stone, metal, etc.
HSK 4
划 huà to divide; to differentiate 列 liè to arrange; to list 则 zé rule, regulation, system 判 pàn to separate; to distinguish 利 lì sharp; keen (opposite of 'blunt')
Show more HSK 4 characters (+3)
剧 jù drama; theatrical play 剩 shèng to remain, to be left over 帅 shuài supreme commander of an army; highest military rank
HSK 5
创 chuàng to start; to do for the first time 删 shān to delete (words or phrases from a text) 刺 cì to pierce; to prick (a sharp object entering or passing through something) 副 fù secondary, auxiliary (opposite of 正) 浏 liú (lit.) clear and limpid (of water)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
罚 fá to punish someone for a mistake or crime
HSK 6
刊 kān to delete and revise 刹 shā to brake; to stop (a vehicle, machine, etc.) 剑 jiàn sword (ancient weapon with a long blade sharpened on both edges and a short hilt; in modern fencing, a slender steel blade with no edge and a small ball at the tip) 割 gē to cut with a knife; to separate 竖 shù upright, vertical, perpendicular to the ground (opposite of '横')
HSK 7
刑 xíng criminal punishment; legal penalty imposed by the state on offenders 刨 páo to dig or excavate by striking downward with a pick, hoe, etc. 剂 jì to regulate; to harmonize 剃 tì to shave off (hair, beard, etc.) with a razor 削 xuē same meaning as 削 (xiāo), mostly used in compound words or idioms
Show more HSK 7 characters (+5)
剔 tī to strip or scrape meat from bone 剖 pōu to cut open; to split open 剥 bō same meaning as 剥 (bāo), used in compound words or idioms, e.g. 剥夺, 生吞活剥 荆 jīng chaste tree (a deciduous shrub with long-stalked palmate leaves, blue-purple flowers, and tough branches used for weaving baskets; branches formerly used as a flogging instrument) 辨 biàn to distinguish; to differentiate

Stroke order