Meaning
The kanji 資 covers the meanings of resources, capital, funds, and assets. Open any Japanese business newspaper and you'll find it on nearly every page — woven into words about money, raw materials, and even a person's natural talent.
Structurally, 資 breaks into two parts: 次 (meaning "next" or "in sequence") on top, and 貝 (shell, money) on the bottom. Cowrie shells were among the earliest currencies in ancient China, which is why 貝 appears across kanji tied to wealth and trade. Put 次 and 貝 together and you get the image of wealth counted and arranged in careful order — exactly what managed capital and resources are.
The reach of 資 goes well beyond finance. It names reference documents used in research (資料), officially recognized qualifications (資格), and the innate qualities a person is born with (資質). All these meanings share one thread: something valuable that you draw upon to accomplish a goal — whether that's money, material, or raw talent.
資 has 13 strokes and is taught in Grade 5 of Japanese elementary school. Its JLPT classification is N2, so expect to encounter it regularly in newspapers, business writing, and academic texts.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
資 has one primary on'yomi reading: シ (shi). Since 資 almost never stands alone as a native Japanese word, this single reading covers virtually every compound you will encounter.
The シ reading traces back to classical Chinese (zī in Mandarin) and has remained phonetically stable since the character entered Japanese. Newspapers, legal documents, and corporate reports use it constantly. Representative compounds:
- 資金 (shikin) — funds, capital money; the money set aside or available for a specific purpose
- 資源 (shigen) — natural or material resources, such as oil, timber, or water
- 資格 (shikaku) — qualification, certification; official recognition of a skill or knowledge level
- 資料 (shiryō) — reference materials, data, documents; items used for study or research
- 資産 (shisan) — assets, property, wealth owned by a person or organization
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
資 has no common kun'yomi in modern Japanese. Some classical texts list たすける (tasukeru) — "to assist" or "to support" — as an archaic reading tied to the kanji's original sense of providing aid. That reading has fallen out of use entirely. For every practical purpose, シ is the only reading you need.
Common Words & Compounds
資 forms a rich set of compounds that appear constantly in business and academic Japanese. Here are the most important ones, grouped by theme.
Finance and Economics:
- 資金 (shikin) — funds, capital; money allocated for a specific project or purpose
- 資本 (shihon) — financial capital; accumulated wealth used to generate further wealth, a core term in economics
- 資産 (shisan) — assets; property or financial holdings owned by an individual or corporation
- 投資 (tōshi) — investment; allocating money with the expectation of future returns
- 融資 (yūshi) — financing, a loan; funds provided by a financial institution to a borrower
- 出資 (shusshi) — contribution of capital; investing money into a business or venture
- 資本主義 (shihon shugi) — capitalism; the economic system built on private ownership of capital
Resources and Materials:
- 資源 (shigen) — resources; natural or material resources such as oil, minerals, forests, or water
- 資料 (shiryō) — reference materials, documents; written or digital items used for study or research
- 物資 (busshi) — goods, supplies, commodities; physical materials needed for daily life or emergencies
Personal Qualities and Qualifications:
- 資格 (shikaku) — qualification, certification; official recognition that someone has met the requirements to fill a role
- 資質 (shishitsu) — innate qualities, natural character; abilities or traits one possesses by nature
- 天資 (tenshi) — natural talent, innate gift; abilities given by nature rather than acquired through effort
Example Sentences
会社は新しい事業のために資金を集めています。
Kaisha wa atarashii jigyō no tame ni shikin wo atsumete imasu.
The company is raising funds for a new business venture.
日本は天然資源が少ない国です。
Nihon wa tennen shigen ga sukunai kuni desu.
Japan is a country with few natural resources.
この試験に合格すると、教師の資格が取れます。
Kono shiken ni gōkaku suru to, kyōshi no shikaku ga toremasu.
Pass this exam and you can earn a teaching qualification.
彼女は株式市場に投資することを決めました。
Kanojo wa kabushiki shijō ni tōshi suru koto wo kimemashita.
She decided to invest in the stock market.
会議の資料を全員に配ってください。
Kaigi no shiryō wo zen'in ni kubatte kudasai.
Please hand out the meeting materials to everyone.
銀行から融資を受けて、店を開きました。
Ginkō kara yūshi wo ukete, mise wo hirakimashita.
I got a bank loan and opened a shop.
この選手は優れた資質を持っているとコーチが評価した。
Kono senshu wa sugureta shishitsu wo motte iru to kōchi ga hyōka shita.
The coach noted that this athlete has exceptional natural qualities.
非常時のために物資を備蓄しておくことが大切です。
Hijōji no tame ni busshi wo bichiku shite oku koto ga taisetsu desu.
Stockpiling supplies for emergencies is important.
政府は再生可能エネルギーへの投資を増やす計画を発表した。
Seifu wa saisei kanō enerugī e no tōshi wo fuyasu keikaku wo happyō shita.
The government announced a plan to increase investment in renewable energy.
Memory Tip
Picture a treasure chest filled with neatly arranged shells (貝) — in ancient times, shells were the currency of choice. Each one is lined up in careful sequence (次), counted and organized with precision. That image — shells arrayed and ready to spend — is what 資 is really about: wealth and resources that are managed and drawn upon exactly when needed.
When you meet 資金 (funds), 資源 (resources to be harvested), or 資格 (qualifications you've earned), think of each as something you reach into and pull from. 資 is your organized treasure chest — valuable, counted, and available the moment you need it.