原料（げんりょう、genryou）
- raw material

The Japanese word 原料 原料 primarily means "raw material," "ingredient," or "source material." It refers to the basic substances or components that are used to create or manufacture something else. These materials undergo processing or transformation to become finished products. The term emphasizes the initial, unprocessed state of these substances.

⚫︎この工場では、プラスチックの《原料を輸入しています。》 Translation: This factory imports plastic raw materials. ⚫︎パンの《原料は小麦粉と水です。》 Translation: The raw materials for bread are flour and water. ⚫︎新しい化粧品の《原料を研究しています。》 Translation: We are researching the raw materials for new cosmetics.

原料 原料 is used in various contexts, including manufacturing, food production, and scientific research. You would use this word when discussing the substances that are the basis for creating other things. It's suitable for describing what things are made *from*, focusing on their unprocessed state. It is a common word, and it can be used formally or informally.

⚫︎原料 原料 is typically written in kanji. ⚫︎ The reading is げんりょう. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎ The okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) is not applicable in this case.

⚫︎ 材料 ざいりょう - material, ingredients ⚫︎ 素材 そざい - raw material, material, ingredient ⚫︎ 原材 げんざい - raw material (similar to 原料)

⚫︎製品 せいひん - product, manufactured goods ⚫︎完成品 かんせいひん - finished product

この会社は、車の製造に使う鋼鉄の《原料を調達しています。》 ・Translation: This company procures the steel raw materials used in car manufacturing. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the raw materials used in the process of making cars.

化学実験では、様々な《原料を混ぜて新しい物質を作ります。》 ・Translation: In chemical experiments, various raw materials are mixed to create new substances. ・Explanation: This example explains the usage of 原料 原料 in the context of a scientific experiment.

The word 原料 原料 is a compound word formed from two kanji: 原 げん, meaning "original," "source," or "raw," and 料 りょう, meaning "material," "ingredient," or "stuff." Therefore, 原料 literally means "original material" or "raw material," accurately reflecting its meaning.