Translation and Meaning of: 料 - ryou

The Japanese word 「料」 (ryou) is commonly used to indicate costs, fees, or materials and is an integral part of various expressions in the Japanese language. The etymology of the Kanji 「料」 traces back to its Chinese origin, where it is composed of the radicals 「斗」 (to, representing a measuring barrel) and 「米」 (kome, meaning rice). Historically, the kanji implied measures of rice as a form of payment or calculation of fees, reflecting an agrarian economy where rice was crucial.

In the modern context, 「料」 is widely used in compound words. Some of the most common combinations include 「材料」 (zairyou, materials), 「料理」 (ryouri, cuisine), and 「料金」 (ryoukin, fee). We note that many compounds involving 「料」 continue to reflect elements of calculation or quantity, aligning with its historical use in measurements. This connection to measurement persists, despite linguistic evolution and the varied contemporary applications of the kanji.

The kanji 「料」 also appears in various contexts, attaching itself to words to specify the nature or purpose of the charge. For example, in 「授業料」 (jugyouryou), the word translates as 'tuition', while in 「手数料」 (tesuuryou), it refers to 'service fee'. This adaptation of meaning showcases the flexibility of this kanji in Japanese linguistic operations, highlighting its relevance both historically and in everyday communication, where costs need to be clearly defined.

In terms of cultural and linguistic usage, 「料」 exemplifies how the historical roots of a symbol can persist even as society evolves. In modern Japan, where electronic cards and modern coins dominate the economy, the words associated with 「料」 still connect us back to a time when rice and precise measurements were the basis of economic exchanges. Therefore, by understanding 「料」 and its compounds, one gains a broader view not only of the language but also of historical cultural practices in Japan.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

  • 食材 (shokuzai) - Food ingredients, items used in meal preparation.
  • 材料 (zairyou) - Materials, frequently used in construction or manufacturing contexts.
  • 素材 (sozai) - Material refers to the basic substance used in crafts or production.
  • 物質 (busshitsu) - Matter, physical substance in a scientific sense.
  • 原料 (genryou) - Raw material, basic material used to produce finished products.

Related words

料金

ryoukin

rate; charge; fee

料理

ryouri

cooking; cuisine; gastronomy

有料

yuuryou

Admission paid; Toll

無料

muryou

free; no charge

肥料

hiryou

manure; fertilizer

燃料

nenryou

fuel

調味料

choumiryou

condiment; seasoning

送料

souryou

post; transport

資料

shiryou

Materials; data

食料

shokuryou

food

Romaji: ryou
Kana: りょう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: material; charge; rate; rate

Meaning in English: material;charge;rate;fee

Definition: 1. Price of goods and services, or the need to pay for them. 2. Ingredients needed to make food and beverages.

Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (料) ryou

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (料) ryou:

Example Sentences - (料) ryou

See below some example sentences:

和風の料理が大好きです。

Watashi wa wafū no ryōri ga daisuki desu

I love Japanese food.

I love Japanese style dishes.

  • 和風 - Japanese style
  • の - Possession particle
  • 料理 - food/kitchen
  • が - subject particle
  • 大好き - like it a lot
  • です - Verb ser/estar (polite form)
彼女の料理は立派です。

Kanojo no ryōri wa rippana desu

Her plate is fine.

  • 彼女 (kanojo) - she
  • の (no) - of
  • 料理 (ryouri) - cuisine
  • は (wa) - Topic particle
  • 立派 (rippa) - splendid, excellent
  • です (desu) - Ser/estar (linking verb)
彼女は料理に香辛料を添えるのが好きです。

Kanojo wa ryōri ni kōshinryō o soeru no ga suki desu

She likes to add spices to the food.

She likes to add spices to the kitchen.

  • 彼女 (kanojo) - She
  • は (wa) - Topic particle
  • 料理 (ryōri) - Cooking
  • に (ni) - Destination particle
  • 香辛料 (kōshinryō) - Spices
  • を (wo) - Direct object particle
  • 添える (soeru) - add
  • のが (noga) - nominal subject particle
  • 好き (suki) - Like
  • です (desu) - sentence-final particle
彼女は私の料理を褒めました。

Kanojo wa watashi no ryōri o homerimashita

She complimented my food.

  • 彼女 - she
  • は - Topic particle
  • 私 - I
  • の - Possessive particle
  • 料理 - cooking, kitchen, dish
  • を - direct object particle
  • 褒めました - praised
彼女は料理に凝っている。

Kanojo wa ryōri ni korotte iru

She's obsessed with cooking.

It is made by cooking.

  • 彼女 - She
  • は - Topic particle
  • 料理 - Cooking
  • に - particle indicating the object of the action
  • 凝っている - She is obsessed.
彼女は料理に心を凝らす。

Kanojo wa ryōri ni kokoro o korasu

She dedicates her soul to cooking.

She is excited to cook.

  • 彼女 - means "she" in Japanese.
  • は - topic particle in Japanese.
  • 料理 - culinária
  • に - destination particle in Japanese.
  • 心 - means "heart" or "mind" in Japanese.
  • を - Object particle in Japanese.
  • 凝らす - means "to dedicate oneself" or "to concentrate" in Japanese.
支給された給料は十分だった。

Shikyū sareta kyūryō wa jūbun datta

The salary paid was sufficient.

  • 支給された - verb 支給 (to provide) in the past and passive tense
  • 給料 - noun 給料 (salary)
  • は - particle は (marks the topic of the sentence)
  • 十分 - adjective 十分 (sufficient, enough)
  • だった - verb だ (to be) in the past tense and affirmative
料理が大好きです。

Ryouri ga daisuki desu

I love cooking.

  • 料理 (ryouri) - means "to cook" or "cuisine"
  • が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
  • 大好き (daisuki) - means "to like a lot" or "to love"
  • です (desu) - Verb "to be" in polite form
料金はいくらですか?

Ryōkin wa ikura desu ka?

What is the price?

How much does this cost?

  • 料金 - means "price" in Japanese.
  • は - It is a topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "price".
  • いくら - means "how much" in Japanese and is used to ask about the price of something.
  • ですか - It is a polite way to ask in Japanese, equivalent to "is" or "are" in English.
無料はとても魅力的な言葉です。

Muryou wa totemo miryokuteki na kotoba desu

Free is a very attractive word.

Free is a very attractive word.

  • 無料 - means "free" in Japanese
  • は - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
  • とても - means "a lot" in Japanese
  • 魅力的 - means "attractive" or "seductive" in Japanese
  • な - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the adjective
  • 言葉 - means "word" in Japanese
  • です - is a polite way of saying "is" or "are" in Japanese

Other Words of this Type: noun

See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun

gai

lesion; damage; evil influence; damage

oto

younger brother

貸間

kashima

Room for rent

煉瓦

renga

brick

贈り物

okurimono

gift; gift

料