資 means “resources, capital”

し · shi

Also: assets, funds

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 5 · 13 strokes

The story

Shells (貝), the money of ancient China, set aside for what comes next (次): 資 is wealth and material to build with. 資料 are the handouts at a meeting, a 資格 is a qualification, and 投資 is investing.

Used in 資料 (shiryou, materials/documents), 資格 (shikaku, qualification), and 投資 (toushi, investment)

More from Money Matters

• 与 give
• 費 expense
• 財 wealth
• 易 easy
• 給 supply
• 返 return
• 貧 poor
• 経 pass through
• 受 receive
• 支 support
• 済 finish
• 得 gain

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.