noun HSK 5
Traditional 資本
běn
capital · funds · assets

Meaning

资本 refers to capital in the economic sense—money, assets, or resources used for investment or to start and operate a business. It can also mean financial resources more broadly, or figuratively refer to something that gives one an advantage.

Usage

Commonly used in business, economics, and finance contexts. Can appear in phrases like 资本主义 (capitalism) or 人力资本 (human capital). In informal contexts, people sometimes use it figuratively to mean 'something to brag about' or 'credentials,' as in 有资本 (to have what it takes).

Examples

  1. 01
    他们需要更多的资本来扩大业务。
    Tāmen xūyào gèng duō de zīběn lái kuòdà yèwù.
    They need more capital to expand their business.
  2. 02
    年轻就是资本
    Niánqīng jiùshì zīběn.
    Youth itself is an asset.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 资本主义
    běn zhǔ
    capitalism
  • 人力资本
    rén běn
    human capital
  • 风险资本
    fēng xiǎn běn
    venture capital
  • 资本市场
    běn shì chǎng
    capital market

Antonyms

Origin

资 originally meant wealth or resources, while 本 means foundation or principal. Together they form the concept of foundational wealth or principal funds used for investment.

Related