益处
yì chu · HSK 7
benefit
🌱 益 (benefit) + 处 (place) = the upside, the good that comes of something
益 carries the sense of profit or gain (think 'beneficial'), and 处 means place or point. Together 益处 names the beneficial point of a thing — its advantage or payoff.
处 — 夂 (foot) + 几 (low table/stool)
Originally depicted a person stopping (夂, an inverted foot) beside a stool (几), suggesting someone settling down in a place. From 'to dwell/stay' the meaning broadened to 'place, location' (chù) and 'to handle, deal with' (chǔ). The simplified form drops the older 虍 top found in 處.