asset

asset — noun

1. a strong skill, helpful trait, or capable person who makes a team, company, or s

1.名詞C1
釋義

a strong skill, helpful trait, or capable person who makes a team, company, or situation noticeably better — for example, fluency in Mandarin, calmness under pressure, or a coach who lifts the whole squad.

例句

Patience is a real asset when you teach young children.

subject is a quality + 'asset when' clause

Hana's fluency in Spanish has been a huge asset to the marketing team.

asset to + group noun

同義詞
  • strength

    broader; can describe both qualities and physical force, while 'asset' focuses on usefulness to others

  • advantage

    stresses the benefit gained, rather than the person or trait providing it

  • plus

    informal; usually a small positive feature rather than a major value

反義詞
  • liability

    someone or something that creates problems for a group, the direct opposite in this sense

  • drawback

    a weak point, but usually about a thing or plan rather than a person

文法句型

asset to + noun

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person, ability, or personal trait, and the asset is normally described as 'to' a group (team, company, school) or 'in' a situation. Almost always praising — rarely used in neutral or negative contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She is an asset for our company.
✅She is an asset to our company.
💡the standard preposition is 'to', not 'for'.
❌His shy character is an asset.
✅His shy character is a real disadvantage in sales.
💡'asset' is positive only; don't use it for weaknesses.

2. money, buildings, equipment, or anything else of financial value held by an indi

2.名詞C1
釋義

money, buildings, equipment, or anything else of financial value held by an individual or company, which they could sell or use to settle what they owe.

例句

The court ordered the bank to freeze all of Mr. Lin's assets last Tuesday.

freeze + assets (legal collocation)

After the fire, the small bakery had almost no assets left to rebuild with.

plural; possession context

同義詞
  • holdings

    specifically investments and property a person or firm controls; narrower than 'assets'

  • property

    often physical things like land or buildings; 'assets' also covers cash and shares

  • resources

    broader; includes people, time, and information, not just money or things

反義詞
  • liabilities

    money or items owed; on a balance sheet, the direct opposite of assets

  • debts

    specifically money you must pay back, narrower than liabilities

文法句型

assets of + amount

freeze/seize someone's assets

用法筆記

Almost always plural in this sense; the singular 'asset' usually points to one specific holding (a building, a share). Common in legal and accounting contexts (freeze, seize, declare, value, sell off). Distinguish from sense 1: here the meaning is strictly financial property, not personal qualities.

常見錯誤

❌I own many asset in Taipei.
✅I own many assets in Taipei.
💡countable; use the plural when listing several.
❌His good health is one of his financial assets.
✅His good health is one of his greatest personal assets.
💡financial assets must have monetary value; health belongs to sense 1.

3. a person quietly working for a spy agency, often inside a foreign government or

3.名詞
釋義

a person quietly working for a spy agency, often inside a foreign government or company, who passes back hidden information about that group's plans.

例句

The agency had been running an asset inside the embassy for almost a decade.

run an asset (spy-craft collocation)

Two agents were sent to Vienna to recruit a new asset at the bank.

recruit + asset

同義詞
  • spy

    everyday word; 'asset' is the inside term used by handlers

  • informant

    someone who feeds information, often to police; less formal organizational tie than 'asset'

  • mole

    an asset who is already deep inside a target group, often for years

反義詞
  • handler

    the agent who controls and meets the asset, the other side of the relationship

文法句型

recruit/run an asset

用法筆記

Insider term used by intelligence services and spy fiction; 'spy' is the everyday word, while 'asset' suggests someone the agency controls or has turned. Often paired with verbs like recruit, run, handle, burn, or expose.

常見錯誤

❌The CIA bought a new asset in Paris.
✅The CIA recruited a new asset in Paris.
💡assets are recruited or turned, not bought like equipment.
❌He is an asset of the police.
✅He is an informant for the police.
💡'asset' belongs to spy agencies; for police helpers use 'informant' or 'source'.