材料
zairyō[d͡za̠iɾʲo̞ː]
The English phrase "ingredients" is translated into Japanese as 材料 (zairyō).
材料 refers to the food items and substances needed to prepare a particular dish. While it specifically means food ingredients in a cooking context, it is also the standard word for industrial or construction materials.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters for "material" (材) and "source/resource" (料).
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word as the object of a verb like 'to prepare' or 'to mix', the particle を is used after 材料.
How do you pronounce it?
zairyō
Did you know?
- In some contexts, a person's character or innate talent is described as their 材料 (zairyō), treating their personality as the 'raw material' they were born with.
- Japanese has a specific term, 旬 (shun), to describe ingredients that are at the absolute peak of their flavor and seasonality.
- The character 料 in 材料 can also be used in words relating to 'fees' or 'charges', such as 'admission fee' or 'medical fee'.
Examples in context
- 材料をよく混ぜ合わせます。Mix the ingredients well.This sentence is useful for practicing how to use 材料 as an object when mixing.Tatoeba #11548189 by small_snow, translation #9662836 by DJ_Saidez
- 残りの材料を加えてください。Add the rest of the ingredients.This sentence is useful for using 材料 as an object when adding items.Tatoeba #5093333 by Andy_Andy, translation #4529582 by CK
- トムは、３つの材料（小麦粉・水・塩）だけでパンを作ります。Tom makes his bread with only 3 ingredients: flour, water and salt.This sentence is useful for listing specific items as the 材料 used in a recipe.Tatoeba #9165027 by small_snow, translation #9164959 by Hybrid
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a kitchen, Yui and Hiroto are preparing to cook a meal.
- 結衣 Yui料理の材料はそろっていますか？Ryōri no zairyō wa sorotte imasu ka?Do we have all the ingredients for the cooking?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、材料は全部買いました。Hai, zairyō wa zenbu kaimashita.Yes, I bought all the ingredients.
- 結衣 Yui大翔くん、野菜を切ってください。Hiroto-kun, yasai o kitte kudasai.Hiroto, please cut the vegetables.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかった、すぐやるよ。Wakatta, sugu yaru yo.Got it, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 材料, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
