御利益

• Reading: ごりやく
• Romaji: goriyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 御 (go) — honorific prefix; 利 (ri) — benefit, advantage; 益 (yaku/eki) — profit, effect
• Pronunciation: /ɡo.ɾi.ja.kɯ/

Meaning

Divine blessing; benefit; grace. A benefit, good fortune, or miraculous effect believed to be bestowed by a deity or Buddha.

A key concept in Japanese folk religion, Shinto, and Buddhism. Visiting shrines and temples for specific 御利益 — such as good health (健康), success in exams (合格祈願), safe childbirth (安産), or business prosperity (商売繁盛) — is a pervasive cultural practice. The term can also be used ironically in secular contexts to mean 'benefit' or 'pay-off' from some effort or investment, though this usage is somewhat playful.

Examples

1. 合格祈願に訪れた神社で絵馬に思いを書き込み、御利益を願った。 At the shrine visited to pray for exam success, wishes were written on a votive tablet in hope of divine favour.
2. このお守りには縁結びの御利益があると言われ、若い参拝者が多い。 This amulet is said to bestow the blessing of good matches, and draws many young worshippers.
3. 彼は長年続けたボランティア活動の御利益か、思わぬ幸運に恵まれたと笑って語った。 He laughed as he said that perhaps the divine reward for his years of volunteer work had brought him unexpected good fortune.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, Shinto, Buddhism, folk custom

Tone: reverent

Origin & History

Derived from Buddhist Sanskrit concept of phala (fruit/result of merit). 利益 (rieki/riyaku) means benefit or profit, and the honorific 御 (go/o) elevates the term to express the divine source of the benefit. The reading ごりやく is the religious form; りえき is the secular reading.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal