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.

料

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.

Example Sentences - (料) ryou

See below some example sentences:

私は毎日料理を作る。

Watashi wa mainichi ryōri o tsukuru

I cook every day.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - Japanese adverb meaning "every day"
• 料理 (ryouri) - The Japanese noun that means "cuisine" or "cooking" is "料理" (りょうり, ryōri).
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 作る (tsukuru) - Japanese verb that means "to do" or "to prepare"

私は料理が得意です。

Watashi wa ryōri ga tokui desu

I am good at cooking.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 料理 (ryouri) - Japanese noun meaning "cooking" or "culinary"
• が (ga) - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence, in this case "cooking" or "culinary"
• 得意 (tokui) - Japanese adjective that means "to be good at", "to have skill in" or "to be a specialist in"
• です (desu) - Japanese linking verb indicating present tense and formality, in this case "I'm good at cooking"

私は料理にいろいろなスパイスを交ぜるのが好きです。

Watashi wa ryōri ni iroiro na supaisu o mazeru no ga suki desu

I like to mix multiple spices in my food.

I like to mix various cooking spices.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 料理 (ryouri) - Japanese noun meaning "cooking" or "culinary"
• に (ni) - Japanese particle indicating action or destination
• いろいろな (iroirona) - Japanese adjective that means "various" or "diverse"
• スパイス (supaisu) - Japanese noun meaning "seasoning" or "condiment"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 交ぜる (mazeru) - Japanese verb that means "mix" or "combine"
• の (no) - Japanese particle indicating possession or explanation
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き (suki) - Japanese adjective that means "like" or "appreciate"
• です (desu) - Japanese linking verb that indicates the formality of the sentence

私は台所で料理をします。

Watashi wa daidokoro de ryōri o shimasu

I cook in the kitchen.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 台所 (daidokoro) - noun that means "kitchen"
• で (de) - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 料理 (ryouri) - noun that means "to cook" or "cuisine"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• します (shimasu) - verb meaning "to do" or "to accomplish"

私は友達に料理を手伝う。

Watashi wa tomodachi ni ryouri o tetsudau

I help my friend cook.

I help my friends cook.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case, "friend"
• 料理 (ryouri) - noun that means "to cook" or "cuisine"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "to cook"
• 手伝う (tetsudau) - "Verb that means 'to help'"

私の給料は少ないです。

Watashi no kyūryō wa sukunai desu

My salary is small.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
• 給料 - noun that means "salary"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about"
• 少ない - adjective that means "little", "scarce"
• です - linking verb that indicates the polite and formal form of the present, equivalent to "to be"

私は毎日料理を練ることが好きです。

Watashi wa mainichi ryōri o neru koto ga suki desu

I like to practice cooking every day.

I like to cook every day.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 - adverb meaning "every day"
• 料理 - noun that means "to cook" or "cuisine"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 練る - verb that means "to train" or "to practice"
• こと - noun meaning "thing" or "fact"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き - adjective meaning "to like" or "to appreciate"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

調味料は料理に欠かせないものです。

Choumiryou wa ryouri ni kakasenai mono desu

Fears are indispensable for cooking.

• 調味料 - Spice
• は - Topic particle
• 料理 - cuisine
• に - target particle
• 欠かせない - indispensable
• もの - thing
• です - verb ser (polite form)

送料は商品の配送費用です。

Souryou wa shouhin no haisou hiyou desu

Freight is the cost of shipping the product.

The shipping fee is the cost of delivery of the product.

• 送料 - It means "shipping cost" in Japanese.
• は - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "shipping cost".
• 商品 - It means "product" in Japanese.
• の - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words, in this case, "product" and "shipping cost".
• 配送 - It means "delivery" in Japanese.
• 費用 - It means "cost" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.