The Meaning of shisan [資産] In Japanese

資産
しさん
Romaji: shisan N2

What does 資産 mean?

Translation and Meaning

assets, property, capital, wealth

Definition

資産 means assets or property: the economic resources owned by a person, company, or government that have value and can be used to generate future benefits. The term is common in finance, accounting, and corporate contexts, covering both tangible items like real estate and equipment, and intangible resources such as patents or goodwill.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • In finance and accounting, 資産 refers to the economic resources owned by an entity, commonly listed on the balance sheet.
  • It covers tangible assets such as cash, real estate, equipment, and intangible assets such as patents, software, and goodwill.
  • In everyday Japanese, 資産 is a formal term for wealth or property, often contrasted with 財産 in personal contexts.

Etymology

資産 shisan is formed from the on’yomi readings of 資 (shi) and 産 (san); the compound uses kanji meaning resources and production, together signaling economic resources that have value.

Origin

The concept of assets in Japanese financial thought was formalized during the Meiji period with the adoption of Western-style accounting and corporate finance; the term 資産 came to denote owned economic resources that can be valued and utilized for future gain.

Composition

  • 資: resources, funds; a form of capital used to produce wealth
  • 産: production, yield, property; the idea of something produced or possessed as value

Usage

Used in formal and technical contexts such as finance, accounting, law, and corporate reporting. In everyday speech, 資産 is more formal than words for personal possessions; common phrases include 資産運用 (しさん うんよう) asset management, 総資産 (そう しさん) total assets, and 有形資産 (ゆうけい しさん) tangible assets; 無形資産 (むけい しさん) intangible assets.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine 資 as a purse of funds and 産 as something produced; together they form assets—resources you own that can generate value.

Variations

  • 財産 zaisan — wealth or property (more general/personal)
  • 有形資産 yūkei shisan — tangible assets
  • 無形資産 mukei shisan — intangible assets
  • 総資産 sō shisan — total assets

Example Phrases

  • 資産を守るために、毎月の貯蓄を見直す。
    Shisan o mamoru tame ni, maitsuki no chochiku o minaosu.
    To protect assets, review monthly savings.
    Lista:
    • 資産 (shisan) – assets
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 守る (mamoru) – to protect
    • ため (tame) – for the purpose of
    • に (ni) – to/for
    • 毎月 (maitsuki) – every month
    • の (no) – genitive
    • 貯蓄 (chochiku) – savings
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 見直す (minaosu) – to review
    Core point: 「資産」 means assets; here it is the object of 守る in a purpose clause.
資産