設備投資

• Reading: せつびとうし
• Romaji: setsubitoushi
• Kanji breakdown: 設備 (setsubi) — equipment, facilities; 投資 (toushi) — investment
• Pronunciation: /se.t͡sɯ.bi.toː.ɕi/

Meaning

Capital investment; plant and equipment investment. Expenditure on physical assets to expand or maintain production capacity.

A macro-economic and corporate finance term referring to investment in long-term physical assets — factories, machinery, IT systems, and infrastructure. 設備投資計画 refers to a capital expenditure plan. Tracked as a key indicator of business confidence and economic growth. Periods of high 設備投資 correlate with economic expansion; cuts signal contraction.

Examples

1. 半導体工場の新設に向け、総額3000億円規模の設備投資が発表された。 Capital investment totalling approximately 300 billion yen was announced for the construction of a new semiconductor plant.
2. 設備投資の回収期間を5年以内と見込んでいる。 The payback period for the capital investment is projected to be within five years.
3. 円安が輸出企業の収益を押し上げ、国内設備投資の増加につながった。 The weak yen boosted earnings at export companies, leading to an increase in domestic capital investment.

Usage Guide

Context: corporate finance, macroeconomics, manufacturing, business planning

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 設備 (setsubi, equipment/installation — from 設 'establish' and 備 'prepare/equip') and 投資 (toushi, investment — from 投 'throw/put in' and 資 'capital'). Together: 'putting capital into physical facilities' — the core concept of building productive capacity.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Business professionals

Social background: Corporate