奔波劳碌也好，披荆斩棘也罢，每个人都或多或少为了自己的生存、生活或崇高的目标在付出艰辛的努力，说白了就是都在做对自己有利甚至是对别人有利的事。做对自己有利的事，是天经地义的事，做对别人有利的事，是义不容辞的事。
说到“有利”，首先映入眼帘的是单词 advantage [ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ]，benefit 和 profit，它们都有“好处或益处”的意思，但 profit 更多的用于“利润，收益”等意思，例如：
1. advantage:
Is there any advantage in getting there early?
早到那里是否有利？
The advantage of booking tickets in advance is that you get better seats.
提前订票的好处是你能得到更好的座位。
2. benefit:
I've had the benefit of a good education.
我得益于受过良好教育。
He couldn't see the benefit of arguing any longer.
他看不出再争论下去有什么好处。
3. profit:
The artist found much to his profit in the Louvre.
这位艺术家从卢浮宫受益颇多。
Future lawyers could study this text with profit.
未来的律师研读这一文本也许会有裨益。
advantage 最最常用的一个搭配是 take advantage of sth/sb，几乎是家喻户晓，因此学会它的重要性不言而喻，有的时候我们可以在 advantage 前面加 full 等词，它主要有两个意思，例如：
1. 利用
I thought I'd take advantage of the sports facilities while I'm here.
我想我在这里的时候会利用体育设施。
We took full advantage of the hotel facilities.
我们充分享用了旅馆设施。
2. 欺骗；占…的便宜
I think she takes advantage of his good nature.
我认为她利用了他的善良本性。
I know she's offered to babysit, but I don't want her to think we're taking advantage of her.
我知道她愿意当保姆，但我不想让她认为我们在占她的便宜。
benefit 作动词时，就可以丰富多彩地表达“受益”，例如：
1. benefit 受益
Investors will benefit because our advisers will be able to offer high quality advice.
投资者将受益，因为我们的顾问将能够提供高质量的建议。
2. benefit from 受益于
Many oil companies benefited from the rising price of crude oil.
许多石油公司受益于原油价格的上涨。
3. benefit sb 让某人受益
We should spend the money on something that will benefit everyone.
我们应该把这笔钱花在大家都能得益的事上。
advantage 对应的一个习语 be/work to your advantage，它就可以表示“
对…有利；转而有利于”；benefit 的习惯表达方式 for sb's benefit/for the benefit of sb 也表达类似的意思，例如：
1. be/work to your advantage:
It would be to your advantage to attend this meeting.
参加这次会议会对你有利。
Eventually, the new regulations will work to our advantage.
新规章制度最终将对我们有利。
2. for sb's benefit/for the benefit of sth/sb
Don't go to any trouble for my benefit!
别为我费工夫！
She wanted her money to be used for the benefit of poor children.
她想把她的钱用于帮助贫困儿童。
表达“某物对某人有利”还可以用一个习语 stand in good stead，其中 stead 是名词，意为“代替”，感觉它跟 instead 有着一定的联系。stand in good stead 特别用于表示当某人需要某物时，某物对某人很有利，比如经验或语言能力等：
His years of experience in the spoken English field has stood him in good stead.
他在英语口语领域多年的经验对他很有帮助。
Getting some work experience now will stand you in good stead when you apply for a permanent job.
当你申请一份长期工作时，现在获得一些工作经验对你有好处。
Your languages will stand you in good stead when it comes to finding a job.
在找工作时，你会的语言会对你有利。
词或词组：
1. Eventually [ɪˈventʃuəli] 意为“最后，终于”
2. when it comes to doing sth 意为“当做某事时”