<p><strong>Outlier</strong> gives the following definition:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>FORM</strong></p>
<p>益 depicts a bowl (皿) with water (<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a>) flowing out of it, representing the original meaning “abundant, more than enough.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With a reference to page 147 of:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>裘錫圭，1991《文字學概要(再版)》，臺北市：萬卷樓，2006年2月再版8刷。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It then continues:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>COMPONENTS</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>In 益, <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a>  “flowing water” is a form component.</p>
<p>皿</p>
<p>In 益, 皿 “bowl” is a form component.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Original forms looked something like:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QQn1L.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QQn1L.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>It goes to show that the entire thing was originally the <em>meaning</em> part.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-11T15:45:36.477Z
Basically, the top 益 is 水 written sideways. I'd also recommend @AbeShudug to see this: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E7%9B%8A - useful website to check for glyph origins. Their explanation given on the oracle bone character is: **甲骨文「益」從「皿」從「水」，會器皿中水滿而溢出之意。本義是溢出，是「溢」的初文，引申為増益、利益。**, which matches the Outlier definition exactly.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-11T09:31:10.030Z
2018-01-11T09:36:15.337Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Mou某
<p>I can see that it have an equal number of strokes above and below the yi stroke not part of the blood radical.  I am not sure of what this character is..I mean..I know 高兴, that is the closest that I know.</p>

<p>If you would like read at where this question a rose from, you are invited for a reading.  haha.</p>

<p>恰合</p>

<p>叶 部 让 拟 囡 过  烨 补 让 袮 囝 过 也 不 让 倪 难 国。
伙 的 保 护 神 真 格 潨 聚 合 和 合 力 合 合 理 威 容 故 亦 变 奕 闻 达 的 问 答。
圈 圏 变 変 合 圆 也。
尔 过。
翼 加 医 家 一 家 怡。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-11T08:50:35.223Z
益 radical：皿，dish，top, bottom both have 5 strokes, 血 itself is a radical, according to 小马词典 there are 3 characters, 血衅衄 with radical 血
user6065
<glyph-origin>
Determining what the meaning of part of a character '益' is
# Determining what the meaning of part of a character '益' is

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-11)

I can see that it have an equal number of strokes above and below the yi stroke not part of the blood radical. I am not sure of what this character is..I mean..I know 高兴, that is the closest that I know.

If you would like read at where this question a rose from, you are invited for a reading. haha.

恰合

叶 部 让 拟 囡 过 烨 补 让 袮 囝 过 也 不 让 倪 难 国。
伙 的 保 护 神 真 格 潨 聚 合 和 合 力 合 合 理 威 容 故 亦 变 奕 闻 达 的 问 答。
圈 圏 变 変 合 圆 也。
尔 过。
翼 加 医 家 一 家 怡。

**Tags:** glyph-origin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 益 radical：皿，dish，top, bottom both have 5 strokes, 血 itself is a radical, according to 小马词典 there are 3 characters, 血衅衄 with radical 血  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-01-11. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

**Outlier** gives the following definition:

> **FORM**
>
> 益 depicts a bowl (皿) with water ([![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png)) flowing out of it, representing the original meaning “abundant, more than enough.”

With a reference to page 147 of:

> 裘錫圭，1991《文字學概要(再版)》，臺北市：萬卷樓，2006年2月再版8刷。

It then continues:

> **COMPONENTS**
>
> [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png)
>
> In 益, [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/fInno.png) “flowing water” is a form component.
>
> 皿
>
> In 益, 皿 “bowl” is a form component.

Original forms looked something like:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/QQn1L.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/QQn1L.png)

It goes to show that the entire thing was originally the *meaning* part.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Basically, the top 益 is 水 written sideways. I'd also recommend @AbeShudug to see this: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E7%9B%8A - useful website to check for glyph origins. Their explanation given on the oracle bone character is: **甲骨文「益」從「皿」從「水」，會器皿中水滿而溢出之意。本義是溢出，是「溢」的初文，引申為増益、利益。**, which matches the Outlier definition exactly.  

---

