集资 (jí zī) literally means 'to gather funds' — 集 (jí) means 'to collect, gather, or pool', and 资 (zī) means 'capital, funds, or resources'. Together, the term refers to the act of raising money from multiple people or sources, often for a specific purpose such as starting a business, funding a community project, or supporting a charitable cause. It is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts, including news reports, policy documents, and business discussions.

Unlike casual fundraising terms like 捐款 (juān kuǎn, 'donation'), 集资 emphasizes collective financial contribution and may involve repayment expectations (e.g., in investment-based crowdfunding) or shared ownership stakes. It can carry neutral, positive, or sometimes cautionary connotations — for instance, illegal or unregulated 集资 activities are strictly prohibited in China and referred to as 非法集资 (fēi fǎ jí zī).