Refers to the original funds or assets used as the basis for investment, business, or financial operations. Often used in economic and business contexts.
We raise capital to start the business.
The principal for the investment came from savings.
He started a small company using his retirement payout as capital.
We need to secure the capital for the new business venture.
The fund is being used as the capital base for regional development.
資金 refers generally to funds set aside for a purpose, whereas 原資 emphasizes that these funds are the original base capital behind an investment or operation.
元金 is the everyday word for the principal in a loan or savings account, while 原資 is a more formal term used in business and investment contexts.
元手 is a casual, everyday word for seed money used to start something, while 原資 is more formal and typically used in financial or corporate contexts.
原資産 (underlying asset) looks similar to 原資 (principal funds) but refers to the asset itself, not the money used to acquire it.
Compound of 原 (gen, 'original') and 資 (shi, 'resources, capital'). The term is a modern Sino-Japanese coinage used primarily in financial and business contexts.