材
材·material, timber, talent
- On-yomi
- ザイ
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 材料 | ざいりょう | materials, ingredients |
| 教材 | きょうざい | teaching materials |
| 木材 | もくざい | lumber, timber |
| 人材 | じんざい | talented people, human resources |
Example sentences
ケーキの材料を買いに行きます。
けーきのざいりょうをかいにいきます。
I'm going to buy the ingredients for the cake.
この教材は初めての人にもわかりやすい。
このきょうざいははじめてのひとにもわかりやすい。
This teaching material is easy to understand even for beginners.
会社はいい人材をさがしている。
かいしゃはいいじんざいをさがしている。
The company is looking for good people.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Writing 財料 instead of 材料 — 財 is money, 材 is stuff you build with
- Reading 木材 as *きざい; it is もくざい
Memory aid
Picture it
Wood (木) plus 才 (ability): raw timber is the material, and 人材 extends the same idea to people you can build a company with.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 具材ぐざいingredients (of a dish)
- 木材もくざいlumber, timber, wood
- 材木ざいもくlumber, timber, wood (as material)
- 材料ざいりょうingredients, materials
- 食材しょくざいfood ingredient
- 取材しゅざいnews gathering, interview
- 人材じんざいtalented person, human resources
- 素材そざいmaterial, raw material
- 教材きょうざいteaching materials
- 独占取材どくせんしゅざいexclusive interview/coverage
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5
What does the kanji 材 mean?