資本

• Reading: しほん
• Romaji: shihon
• Kanji breakdown: 資 (shi) — resources, capital; 本 (hon) — root, foundation, origin
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.hoɴ/

Meaning

Capital; funds. Financial assets or resources used to generate wealth, especially in economics and business.

A noun with a more economic and theoretical nuance than 資金. 資本 often appears in discussions of capitalism (資本主義), economics, and corporate finance. It implies the foundational wealth or assets that drive production and business growth, rather than just available money.

Examples

1. 資本主義は多くの国の経済の基礎になっている。 Capitalism forms the foundation of many countries' economies.
2. この会社の資本金は一億円です。 This company's capital stock is 100 million yen.
3. 人的資本に投資することが大切だ。 It's important to invest in human capital.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, business, finance

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 資 (resources, capital) and 本 (root, foundation). The combination means the foundational resources or principal assets of an enterprise.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional