资本主义 (zī běn zhǔ yì) — capitalism

Definition

An economic system based on private ownership and free markets. Paired with its contrast 社会主义, which emphasizes public/state ownership and central planning.

phrase
capitalism

Examples

  • 资本主义。
    zī běn zhǔ yì De hé xīn shì sī yǒu zhì hé zì yóu shì chǎng.
    The core of capitalism is private ownership and the free market.
  • 资本主义。
    Xǔ duō guó jiā cóng zī běn zhǔ yì zhuǎn xiàng le hùn hé jīng jì mó shì.
    Many countries have shifted from capitalism to a mixed economic model.
  • 资本主义。
    Mǎ kè sī zhǔ yì rèn wéi zī běn zhǔ yì bì rán dǎo zhì jiē jí máo dùn.
    Marxism holds that capitalism inevitably leads to class conflict.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

资本capital
资zīfunds本běnprincipal
联合Side by side
主义-ism
主zhǔ义yì

资本 refers to capital, and 主义 conveys a system or doctrine; together they denote capitalism.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 資; 资 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell-money
Sound part声符shēngfú
次
次cì資zī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 資 puts 次 above 貝, a shell-money sign, to write property or resource; 次 supplies the sound. The simplified 资 is a shorthand, so do not treat its parts as historical.

Open 资 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Economy & Trade

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