无不利
wú bù lì
Nothing is unfavorable; all is beneficial.
Meaning
Denotes a state where the outcome is favorable in every respect. The term //lì// (利) implies benefit, advantage, or efficacy; etymologically associated with sharpness, suggesting a path cleared of friction or impediments. The double negative serves an emphatic purpose, indicating that failure is excluded from the current trajectory.
Grammar and usage
A double negative construction consisting of an existential negative (无 "there is no...") and a qualitative negative (不 "not..."). This functions as a comprehensive affirmative, asserting that no instance of non-benefit exists across all possible domains.
Distinctions
Conceptually related to //hēng// (亨, success/penetration), //jí// (吉, auspiciousness), and //wú ài// (无碍, without hindrance).
Translator notes
Depending on the required register, translations may range from literal ("There is nothing that is not beneficial") to functional ("Universally auspicious" or "Success in all respects"). In divination contexts, this phrase typically serves as a summary judgment indicating complete alignment between the actor's intent and situational requirements.
Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the term means in a particular passage.