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B1 noun #1,500 most common 6 min read

收益

shouyi Top 1,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 收益 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 收益 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '收益' (shōuyì) is a bit advanced, but you can think of it simply as 'money you get back' or 'good things you get' from doing something. Imagine you put 10 yuan in a piggy bank and later you find 11 yuan; that extra 1 yuan is like your '收益'. It's the 'plus' or the 'extra' you get. In very simple Chinese, people might just say '赚钱' (making money), but '收益' is the more formal way to say it. You might see it on a simple banking app or when someone talks about a small business. Just remember: 收 (shōu) means 'to receive' and 益 (yì) means 'benefit'. So, it's the benefit you receive.

At the A2 level, you should start recognizing '收益' in contexts related to money and work. It is a noun. You can use it to describe the result of a small investment or a job. For example, '投资收益' (tóuzī shōuyì) means 'investment return'. You might hear people talk about '昨日收益' (yesterday's earnings) on their phone apps. It's different from '工资' (salary) because it's usually about money that comes from investments or business, not just your monthly pay. You can also use it for non-money things, like the '收益' (benefit) of learning a new language. It's a useful word for describing positive results.

At the B1 level, '收益' is a key vocabulary word for discussing finances, business, and personal development. You should understand that it refers to the net gain or yield from an activity. It is frequently used in professional settings. You'll see it in phrases like '收益率' (yield rate/ROI) and '获得收益' (to gain returns). At this level, you should be able to distinguish '收益' from '收入' (income). While '收入' is the total amount of money you receive, '收益' is the gain or profit. For example, if you sell a book for $20 that cost you $15 to make, your '收入' is $20, but your '收益' (or profit) is $5. It is also used for the abstract benefits of experiences.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '收益' in more complex economic and social discussions. You should understand its nuances in financial markets, such as '年化收益' (annualized return) or '风险与收益' (risk and return). You should also be comfortable using it in formal writing to describe the 'payoff' of policies, projects, or educational pursuits. At this level, you can use '收益' to discuss the efficiency of a system or the long-term advantages of a strategy. It's not just about money anymore; it's about the 'value' gained. You should also be aware of related terms like '红利' (dividend) and '效益' (effectiveness) and know when '收益' is the most appropriate choice.

At the C1 level, '收益' becomes a precise tool for economic analysis and sophisticated discourse. You will encounter it in academic papers, financial reports, and high-level business negotiations. You should understand concepts like '边际收益' (marginal return) and '收益递减' (diminishing returns). At this level, '收益' is often used to evaluate the success of large-scale investments or government interventions. You should be able to discuss the 'social returns' (社会收益) of public goods and how they differ from private gains. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's formal register and its ability to encompass both tangible financial yields and intangible strategic advantages.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of '收益' and its role in the intricacies of global finance and philosophy. You can discuss '收益' in the context of complex financial derivatives, portfolio theory, and macroeconomic stability. You might use it to critique the 'yield-seeking' behavior of capital or to discuss the 'existential returns' of a life well-lived. At this level, you understand the subtle differences between '收益', '获益', '裨益', and '效益' in any given context. You can use the word to construct persuasive arguments about the long-term sustainability of economic models, focusing on how '收益' is distributed across different sectors of society. It is a word that represents the ultimate outcome of any purposeful human action.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

收益 in 30 Seconds

收益 (shōuyì) means earnings, profit, or yield from investments or activities.
It is a formal noun used in finance, business, and general contexts.
Commonly paired with 'investment' (投资) and 'rate' (率) to mean ROI.
Can also refer to non-monetary benefits like knowledge or health.

The term 收益 (shōuyì) is a cornerstone of Chinese financial and business vocabulary, representing the concept of 'earnings,' 'profit,' or 'yield.' At its core, it refers to the positive outcome—usually monetary but sometimes abstract—derived from an activity, investment, or asset. Unlike simple 'income' (收入), which might just be a paycheck, 收益 often implies a calculated return on something you have put effort or capital into.

Financial Context: In the world of finance, it specifically denotes the 'yield' or 'return' on investments like stocks, bonds, or real estate. It is the net gain after considering the initial outlay.

这次投资的收益超出了我们的预期。 (The returns from this investment exceeded our expectations.)

Abstract Benefit: Beyond money, it can refer to the 'benefits' gained from an experience, such as the knowledge gained from a seminar or the health benefits of a diet.

阅读能给人带来长期的精神收益。 (Reading can bring long-term spiritual benefits to people.)

In a broader sense, 收益 is used to evaluate the success of an endeavor. If the 收益 is high, the action is deemed worthwhile. It is frequently paired with words like 'rate' (率) to form '收益率' (ROI/Yield rate), a critical metric in business analysis. Understanding this word requires recognizing its dual nature: the hard numbers of a bank statement and the soft gains of personal growth.

Economic Scale: On a macro level, economists use it to describe the 'social benefits' or 'economic returns' of government policies or infrastructure projects.

低风险通常意味着低收益。 (Low risk usually means low returns.)

Using 收益 correctly involves understanding its role as a noun and the specific verbs it typically pairs with. It is most commonly the object of verbs like 'obtain' (获得), 'increase' (增加), or 'calculate' (计算).

Common Verb Pairings: You 'get' (获得/取得) 收益, you 'pursue' (追求) 收益, and you 'guarantee' (保障) 收益. In a business report, you might 'analyze' (分析) the 收益.

投资者都在追求更高的投资收益。 (Investors are all pursuing higher investment returns.)

As a Modifier: It often acts as an adjective-like modifier for other nouns: 收益率 (yield rate), 收益权 (right to earnings), 收益性 (profitability).

这笔贷款的年化收益是5%。 (The annualized return on this loan is 5%.)

In formal writing, 收益 is preferred over more colloquial terms like '赚钱' (making money). It sounds professional and objective. It can also be used in non-financial contexts to describe the 'payoff' of an action. For instance, '学习的收益' refers to the benefits of studying, which includes knowledge, better grades, and future career prospects.

Grammar Tip: 收益 is almost always a noun. You cannot say '我收益了' to mean 'I profited'; instead, say '我获得了收益'.

公司需要平衡风险与收益。 (The company needs to balance risk and return.)

You will encounter 收益 in several distinct environments, ranging from the evening news to personal banking apps.

Financial News & Media: Broadcasters frequently discuss 'market returns' (市场收益) or 'corporate earnings' (企业收益) when reporting on the stock market or national economy.

今日股市波动较大，整体收益率有所下降。 (The stock market fluctuated significantly today, and the overall yield has decreased.)

Banking & Apps: If you use Chinese banking apps like Alipay (Alipay's Yu'ebao) or WeChat Pay, you will see your 'daily earnings' (昨日收益) displayed prominently.

打开手机，你可以看到每天的理财收益。 (Open your phone, and you can see your daily financial management returns.)

In a corporate setting, managers use it during quarterly reviews to discuss the 'project benefits' (项目收益). It is also a key term in academic discussions regarding 'educational returns' (教育收益), where researchers measure how much more money someone earns after getting a degree. Lastly, in gaming, '收益' refers to the loot or experience points gained from completing a quest or killing a boss.

Gaming & Social Media: Gamers often talk about 'farming efficiency' as '收益', while influencers discuss the '收益' from a specific sponsorship deal.

参加这个志愿者活动，我最大的收益是交到了很多朋友。 (Participating in this volunteer activity, my greatest gain was making many friends.)

While 收益 is a versatile word, learners often confuse it with other 'money-related' terms. Understanding the nuances is key to sounding natural.

收益 vs. 收入 (Income): '收入' is the total money you receive (like a salary). '收益' is the gain or profit. You can have a high '收入' but low '收益' if your expenses are also high.

他的月收入是一万，但扣除成本后，投资收益并不多。 (His monthly income is 10,000, but after deducting costs, the investment return isn't much.)

收益 vs. 利润 (Profit): '利润' is a strict accounting term (Revenue - Expenses). '收益' is broader and can include non-monetary benefits or general yields.

错误用法：我收益了很多钱。 (Incorrect: I '收益ed' a lot of money.) 正确用法：我获得了丰厚的收益。

Another common error is using '收益' when '利益' (interest/benefit) is more appropriate. '利益' often refers to personal or group interests, often in a political or social sense, whereas '收益' is more about the result of an action or investment. For example, you talk about '国家利益' (national interest) but '投资收益' (investment return).

收益 vs. 利益 (Interest/Benefit): '利益' is about what is good for you or your rights. '收益' is the specific gain you got from something.

我们必须保护消费者的合法利益。 (We must protect the legal interests of consumers.)

To truly master 收益, you must see how it fits into the family of 'gain' and 'profit' words in Chinese.

1. 利润 (Lìrùn) - Profit: Strictly financial. Used in business accounting. It is the 'net profit' after all costs are paid. 收益 is broader and can be used for non-business gains.
2. 收入 (Shōurù) - Income: Refers to the total money coming in (gross). A person's salary is 收入, but the interest they get from a bank account is 收益.
3. 获益 (Huòyì) - To Benefit (Verb): While 收益 is a noun, 获益 is the verb form. '我获益匪浅' (I benefited greatly).

虽然公司的收入很高，但由于开支大，实际利润和收益却很低。 (Although the company's income is high, due to large expenses, the actual profit and return are very low.)

4. 效益 (Xiàoyì) - Effectiveness/Benefit: Often used for 'social benefit' or 'economic efficiency'. It emphasizes the relationship between input and output.
5. 红利 (Hónglì) - Dividend/Bonus: A specific type of 收益 given to shareholders. Also used metaphorically like 'demographic dividend' (人口红利).

这项政策带来了巨大的社会效益。 (This policy has brought about huge social benefits.)

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Noun modification with '的'

Verb-Object constructions

Comparison structures

Examples by Level

我的投资有了收益。

My investment has earnings.

Subject + Verb + Object

这有什么收益吗？

Are there any benefits to this?

Question with '吗'

收益是一块钱。

The gain is one yuan.

Noun as Subject

我喜欢看到收益。

I like seeing the returns.

Verb + Object

收益很高。

The returns are high.

Noun + Adjective

没有收益。

There are no returns.

Negative '没有'

收益很少。

The returns are very few.

Adverb '很少'

这是我的收益。

This is my gain.

Possessive '我的'

这个项目的收益不错。

The returns of this project are not bad.

Possessive '的'

你可以获得很多收益。

You can obtain many benefits.

Auxiliary '可以'

昨天的收益是多少？

How much were yesterday's earnings?

Question word '多少'

投资股票有收益也有风险。

Investing in stocks has returns and also risks.

Parallel structure '有...也有...'

学习汉语的收益很大。

The benefits of learning Chinese are great.

Gerund-like phrase as subject

我们需要增加收益。

We need to increase earnings.

Verb '增加'

收益比去年多。

The returns are more than last year.

Comparison '比'

他只关心收益。

He only cares about the returns.

Adverb '只'

理财产品的年化收益通常比较稳定。

The annualized return of wealth management products is usually quite stable.

Compound noun '年化收益'

通过这次合作，双方都获得了可观的收益。

Through this cooperation, both parties obtained considerable gains.

Preposition '通过'

你应该关注长期的收益，而不是短期的利润。

You should focus on long-term returns, not short-term profits.

Contrast '而是'

这种投资方式的收益率非常高。

The yield rate of this investment method is very high.

Term '收益率'

除了金钱，你还得到了精神上的收益。

Besides money, you also gained spiritual benefits.

Structure '除了...还...'

我们要确保投资者的合法收益。

We must ensure the legal returns of investors.

Verb '确保'

收益的分配是一个复杂的问题。

The distribution of earnings is a complex issue.

Noun phrase as subject

如果市场下跌，收益也会减少。

If the market falls, returns will also decrease.

Conditional '如果'

高收益往往伴随着高风险。

High returns are often accompanied by high risks.

Verb '伴随'

公司今年的净收益增长了百分之二十。

The company's net earnings grew by twenty percent this year.

Specific term '净收益'

这项技术改造能带来显著的经济收益。

This technological transformation can bring significant economic returns.

Adjective '显著'

投资者在评估风险后才决定追求该收益。

Investors decided to pursue the return only after assessing the risks.

Structure '...后才...'

收益不仅体现在财务报表上，还体现在品牌价值上。

Returns are not only reflected in financial statements but also in brand value.

Structure '不仅...还...'

我们必须合理平衡风险与收益的关系。

We must reasonably balance the relationship between risk and return.

Adverb '合理'

由于市场波动，预期的收益未能实现。

Due to market volatility, the expected returns were not realized.

Preposition '由于'

该基金的累计收益已经翻了一番。

The cumulative return of this fund has already doubled.

Idiomatic '翻了一番'

在宏观经济学中，收益递减规律是一个基本概念。

In macroeconomics, the law of diminishing returns is a fundamental concept.

Economic term '收益递减规律'

政府需要权衡基础设施建设的社会收益与成本。

The government needs to weigh the social benefits and costs of infrastructure construction.

Verb '权衡'

该项目的边际收益正在逐渐缩小。

The marginal return of this project is gradually narrowing.

Term '边际收益'

我们需要建立一个公平的收益分配机制。

We need to establish a fair earnings distribution mechanism.

Noun '机制'

这种投资策略旨在最大化长期资本收益。

This investment strategy aims to maximize long-term capital gains.

Verb '旨在'

在全球化背景下，跨国公司的收益来源更加多元化。

In the context of globalization, the sources of earnings for multinational corporations are more diversified.

Noun '来源'

收益的波动性是投资者必须面对的挑战。

The volatility of returns is a challenge that investors must face.

Abstract noun '波动性'

该政策的实施显著提升了农业生产的综合收益。

The implementation of this policy significantly improved the comprehensive returns of agricultural production.

Adjective '综合'

资本的逐利性决定了它总是流向收益最高的地方。

The profit-seeking nature of capital determines that it always flows to where returns are highest.

Noun '逐利性'

在零和博弈中，一方的收益必然意味着另一方的损失。

In a zero-sum game, one party's gain necessarily means another party's loss.

Term '零和博弈'

我们需要重新审视数字经济带来的非对称收益。

We need to re-examine the asymmetric returns brought by the digital economy.

Adjective '非对称'

收益的合法性与伦理边界是金融监管的核心议题。

The legality and ethical boundaries of earnings are core issues in financial regulation.

Abstract noun '合法性'

长期而言，教育的社会收益远超其直接的经济回报。

In the long run, the social benefits of education far exceed its direct economic returns.

Structure '远超'

该投资组合的超额收益主要源于其独特的资产配置。

The excess return of this portfolio mainly stems from its unique asset allocation.

Term '超额收益'

我们必须警惕那些建立在环境破坏基础上的短期收益。

We must be wary of short-term gains built on the basis of environmental destruction.

Verb '警惕'

收益的分配不仅是经济问题，更是深刻的社会公正问题。

The distribution of earnings is not just an economic issue, but a profound issue of social justice.

Structure '不仅是...更是...'

Synonyms

利润回报收入盈利益处

Antonyms

亏损损失成本

Common Collocations

投资收益

年化收益

预期收益

获得收益

增加收益

收益分配

收益率

净收益

长期收益

社会收益

Common Phrases

收益颇丰

收益匪浅

高风险高收益

保本收益

固定收益

额外收益

精神收益

潜在收益

实际收益

即时收益

Often Confused With

收益 vs 收入 (Total income)

收益 vs 利润 (Accounting profit)

收益 vs 利益 (General interests/rights)

Idioms & Expressions

"获益匪浅"

"受益终身"

"无利不起早"

"一劳永逸"

"坐享其成"

"因小失大"

"利大于弊"

"互惠互利"

"名利双收"

"一本万利"

Easily Confused

收益 vs

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

Note 1

It is more formal than '利'.

Note 2

It can be used for both positive and (rarely) negative results (though usually positive).

Common Mistakes

Using 收益 instead of 收入 for salary.
Using 收益 as a verb (e.g., 我收益了很多).
Confusing 收益 with 利益 in political contexts.
Mispronouncing 'yì' as 'yí'.
Using 收益 to describe a simple gift (use 礼物).

Tips

Think Yield

Whenever you think of 'yield' in English, '收益' is likely the best Chinese translation.

Noun Only

Remember that 收益 is a noun. Don't try to use it as an action word.

App Usage

Check your Alipay or WeChat Pay 'Wealth' section to see '收益' in action.

Business Reports

Use '收益' in business presentations to sound more professional than '利润'.

Vs. 收入

Income (收入) is what you get; Earnings (收益) is what you gain.

获益匪浅

Memorize '获益匪浅' to use when you finish a great book or class.

Common Pairs

Learn '投资收益' as a single block of meaning.

Tone Check

The 4th tone on 'yì' should be sharp and falling.

Broaden Usage

Try using it for things like 'exercise' or 'reading' to describe benefits.

HSK Prep

This is a high-frequency word for HSK 4 and 5 levels.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Cultural Context

Education is often seen as a high-return 'investment' for the family.

The widespread use of banking apps has made '收益' a daily buzzword.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"你最近的投资收益怎么样？"

"你觉得学习汉语最大的收益是什么？"

"这个项目能带来多少收益？"

"你更看重短期收益还是长期收益？"

"什么样的理财产品收益比较稳？"

Journal Prompts

写一写你最近在某件事上的收益。

你认为金钱收益和精神收益哪个更重要？

描述一次让你获益匪浅的经历。

如果一项投资收益很高但风险也很大，你会做吗？

讨论一下教育对一个人的长期收益。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it can also refer to non-monetary benefits like knowledge, health, or experience. For example, '精神收益' means spiritual gain.

利润 is a strict accounting term (Revenue - Cost). 收益 is broader and can mean general yield or benefit.

No, it is a noun. Use '获得收益' or '获益' instead.

It means 'yield rate' or 'rate of return' (ROI).

Yes, it is more formal than '赚钱' or '赚头'.

You say '高收益'.

No, salary is '工资' or '收入'. 收益 is usually from investments or extra gains.

Yes, it's very common and means 'to have benefited greatly'.

It means 'yesterday's earnings', commonly seen on banking apps.

Generally yes, but in finance, you can have '负收益' (negative return/loss).