capital
Definitions
The city that serves as the seat of a country's or region's government.
首都；省会，首府。
Wealth in the form of money or assets used to start or grow a business.
资本，资金（用于投资或经营的财富）。
A large (upper-case) letter, e.g. A, B, C.
大写字母。
Most important; principal; (of a crime) punishable by death.
首要的，主要的；（罪行）可判死刑的。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcapit (head) + -al (relating to) = 'of the head, chief.' From that one idea of 'head' spread every sense: the capital city is the head city, a capital letter is the big one at the head of a word, capital (money) is the principal 'head' sum that everything grows from, and a capital crime is one that could cost you your head.
Root capit still carries 24 more wordsWhy It Means This
Capital is one word doing four jobs, and 'head' ties them together. The head sits on top and leads, so the capital city heads a nation and a capital letter heads a word. The head is also where you start — capital in finance is the principal sum, the 'head' of money that earnings flow from. And literally, a capital offense once meant losing your head. Trace any sense back to 'head' and it makes sense.
Common Collocations
- 1.raise capital筹集资金
- 2.capital city首都
- 3.capital letter大写字母
- 4.venture capital风险资本
- 5.working capital营运资金
Example Sentences
- 1.
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and its largest city.
- 2.
The startup raised enough capital to hire ten engineers.
- 3.
Always begin a sentence with a capital letter.
- 4.
Education is of capital importance to the country's future.
Easily Confused
capital vs. capitol: capital is everything above — the city, the money, the upper-case letter. Capitol (with an o) is only the building where a legislature meets (the U.S. Capitol). Trick: the Capitol has a dome, and the o in capitol looks like that dome.