资本主义
zīběnzhǔyì · HSK 7
capitalism
💰🏦 资本 (capital) + 主义 (-ism / doctrine) = capital-ism, the doctrine of capital
资本 means capital or principal: 资 is funds/resources and 本 is the root or principal sum. 主义 is the standard suffix for an -ism or doctrine, so the compound reads literally as capital + doctrine.
本 — tree 木 + mark at base
本 is a pictograph of a tree (木) with a stroke at its base, marking the roots. From this 'root' meaning it extended to 'origin,' 'source,' and 'foundation.' In modern usage it also serves as a measure word for bound objects like books.
主 — flame/lamp on top of a stand 王
Originally a pictograph of a lamp with a flame on top of its stand, representing the lord or master of the household who tended the fire. The meaning extended from 'lamp/host' to 'master, owner, main, principal'. The character 炷 (wick) preserves the original 'lamp' sense.