assets

assets — noun

1. a person, quality, or skill that is extremely useful and helpful, making success

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person, quality, or skill that is extremely useful and helpful, making success or good results more likely for a group or activity

例句

Layla's ability to speak three languages is a great asset to the international sales team.

asset to

The new community garden has become a real asset for the whole neighbourhood.

同義詞
  • advantage

    more general; asset emphasises active value to someone

  • strength

    focuses on internal capability rather than external value

  • resource

    broader — can refer to money, materials, or people

  • plus

    informal; used in everyday conversation ('big plus')

反義詞
  • liability

    a person or thing that causes problems or disadvantage

文法句型

asset + to + [person/group]

用法筆記

In this sense, the singular form 'asset' is most common. The phrase 'be an asset to [someone/something]' is a standard pattern. This sense does NOT refer to money or property.

常見錯誤

❌His patience is a good asset for the team.
✅His patience is a great asset to the team.
💡Use 'to' when naming a person or group that benefits; 'for' is acceptable when referring to a place, community, or broader context (e.g., 'an asset for the neighbourhood').

2. the money, property, investments, and other items of value that a person, compan

2.名詞B2
釋義

the money, property, investments, and other items of value that a person, company, or organization owns, which can be sold to pay debts or to raise cash

例句

The bank valued the company's total assets at over two million dollars.

total assets

After the divorce, Henry and Ana had to divide their shared assets fairly between them.

同義詞
  • property

    more specific to land and buildings; assets includes cash and investments too

  • holdings

    formal; often used for investments and stocks

  • wealth

    uncountable, broader — includes income and future earnings

  • belongings

    informal, refers to physical items only

反義詞
  • liabilities

    debts and financial obligations owed to others

  • debts

    money owed, the opposite of what assets provide

文法句型

[someone's] + assets

sell/liquidate + assets

total/net + assets

用法筆記

The plural form 'assets' is far more common than the singular 'asset' in this sense because people and companies typically own multiple items of value. A balance sheet lists assets on one side and liabilities on the other.

常見錯誤

❌I used my car as an asset to pay my credit card bill.
✅I sold my car
💡one of my assets — to pay my credit card bill.' — You sell or use assets to raise money, not to pay debts directly.

3. a person who works secretly for an intelligence service, reporting on what anoth

3.名詞C1
釋義

a person who works secretly for an intelligence service, reporting on what another country or group is doing

例句

The intelligence officer met his asset in a café near the embassy to receive the latest reports.

his asset

Li was recruited as an intelligence asset while working at the foreign ministry.

同義詞
  • spy

    more general and widely understood; 'asset' is the professional term

  • informant

    often refers to someone providing info to police, not intelligence agencies

  • source

    broader term; can refer to any person providing information

文法句型

[intelligence/military] + asset

recruit/turn + asset

用法筆記

This is a technical term used by intelligence professionals. In everyday English, 'spy' or 'informant' are more common. The word 'asset' in this sense carries no moral judgement — it simply means someone who is a source of secret information.