118
材
Material, Timber
JLPT N2
Interesting Fact
Japan has a long tradition of building wooden temples and shrines. The word 木材 (mokuzai), meaning 'timber,' is commonly used in construction and woodworking.
Memory Trick
Imagine stacks of wooden boards waiting to become a house. Those building materials help you remember 材 means 'material' or 'timber.'
Readings
Onyomi: ザイ (zai)
Kunyomi:
Example Words
材料
ざいりょう (zairyou)
Ingredients, Materials
木材
もくざい (mokuzai)
Timber
教材
きょうざい (kyouzai)
Teaching material
人材
じんざい (jinzai)
Human resources
Example Sentence
この 料理 の 材料 は 新鮮です。
この りょうり の ざいりょう は しんせんです。
kono ryouri no zairyou wa shinsen desu
The ingredients for this dish are fresh.