资源 (zī yuán) literally combines 资 (zī), meaning 'funds,' 'assets,' or 'capital,' and 源 (yuán), meaning 'source' or 'origin.' Together, they refer to any valuable assets available for use — especially natural resources like water, minerals, or forests; human resources such as skilled workers or labor; and informational resources like data, libraries, or online tools. It is a formal, collective noun often used in academic, governmental, and business contexts.

The word implies utility and potential for development or exploitation — not just raw materials, but anything that can be drawn upon to achieve a goal. Unlike more colloquial terms like 东西 (dōngxi, 'things'), 资源 carries connotations of scarcity, management, sustainability, and strategic value. It frequently appears in compound phrases like 自然资源 (zìrán zīyuán, 'natural resources') or 人力资源 (rénlì zīyuán, 'human resources'), and is rarely used in casual speech without modification.