The Chinese word 资本主义 is formed by combining 资, meaning "capital" or "resources", and 本, meaning "root" or "origin", to create 资本, meaning "capital". This compound is then joined with 主, meaning "master" or "main", and 义, meaning "doctrine" or "principle", which together form 主义, meaning "-ism" or "doctrine". Thus, 资本主义 literally translates to "capital-ism", denoting the economic system centered on capital.