Translation and Meaning of: 無料 - muryou

The word 「無料」 (muryou) is composed of two distinct kanji: 「無」 (mu) and 「料」 (ryou). The kanji 「無」 means "nothing" or "not," functioning as a prefix to negate or indicate absence. Meanwhile, the kanji 「料」 generally refers to "fee," "cost," or "material." Thus, when combined, they form the concept of "no cost" or "free," which is very common in advertisements and promotions.

The origin of the word 「無料」 can be traced back to ancient times when commerce was still based on barter transactions. In this context, the notion of something free was both a community necessity and a gesture of generosity. With the development of the Japanese language and the introduction of Chinese characters, the concept was precisely encapsulated by the kanji 「無」 and 「料」, as they could clearly and immediately communicate the concept of gratuity.

In everyday life, 「無料」 is often found in various situations, from the distribution of promotional samples to special offers in stores, where services or products are offered "at no cost" as a strategy to attract customers. Furthermore, in an expanding digital world, 「無料」 is also an appealing term in apps, games, and subscriptions, where the user can access certain functionality or content without having to shell out money.

Another variation often seen is the use of 「無料」 in entertainment and culture contexts, such as events or exhibitions where entry is free. This has become an increasingly common practice, with various organizations and institutions opting for 「無料」 exhibitions to promote culture and education accessible to all, thereby democratizing access to knowledge and art.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• フリー (Furii) - Free, open
• 無償 (Mushō) - No cost, no compensation
• 無料の (Muryō no) - Free, without charge (adjective)
• 無料で (Muryō de) - For free, at no cost (adverb)
• 無料提供 (Muryō teikyō) - Free supply
• 無料配布 (Muryō haifu) - Free distribution
• 無料公開 (Muryō kōkai) - Free publication
• 無料ダウンロード (Muryō daunrōdo) - Free download
• 無料サービス (Muryō sābisu) - Free service
• 無料版 (Muryō ban) - Free edition
• 無料利用 (Muryō riyō) - Free use
• 無料貸出 (Muryō karidashi) - Free borrowing
• 無料視聴 (Muryō shichō) - Free visualization
• 無料配信 (Muryō haishin) - Free streaming
• 無料試用 (Muryō shiyō) - Free trial
• 無料登録 (Muryō tōroku) - Free registration
• 無料体験 (Muryō taiken) - Free trial
• 無料入場 (Muryō nyūjō) - Free admission
• 無料見学 (Muryō kengaku) - Free visit
• 無料相談 (Muryō sōdan) - Free consultation
• 無料診断 (Muryō shindan) - Free diagnosis
• 無料カウンセリング (Muryō kaunseringu) - Free counseling
• 無料コンサルティング (Muryō konsarutingu) - Free consulting
• 無料トライアル (Muryō toraiaru) - Free trial
• 無料サンプル (Muryō sanpuru) - Free sample

無料

Romaji: muryou
Kana: むりょう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: free; no charge

Meaning in English: free;no charge

Definition: It can be used without paying money.

Example Sentences - (無料) muryou

See below some example sentences:

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