原料

• Pinyin: yuán liào
• Hanzi breakdown: 原 = 厂 (cliff) + 泉 (spring), source or origin; 料 = 米 (grain) + 斗 (measure), material or substance

Meaning

Raw material; ingredient. The basic materials used in manufacturing or cooking before they are processed or transformed.

Used in industrial, culinary, and scientific contexts. 原料 often refers to unprocessed inputs: 食品原料 (food ingredients), 工业原料 (industrial raw materials), 天然原料 (natural raw materials). Distinct from 材料, which can also include processed or assembled materials.

Examples

1. 这种面料的原料是百分之百天然棉花，对皮肤非常友好。 The raw material of this fabric is one hundred percent natural cotton, which is very gentle on the skin.
2. 工厂由于原料供应不足，不得不暂时减少生产线上的产量。 Due to insufficient raw material supply, the factory had no choice but to temporarily reduce output on the production line.
3. 厨师说，这道菜的原料很普通，关键在于火候和调料的搭配。 The chef says the ingredients for this dish are quite ordinary — the key lies in the heat control and seasoning combinations.

Usage Guide

Context: industry, cooking, science

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这款产品使用的是环保型原料，对环境无害。(This product uses eco-friendly raw materials that are harmless to the environment.)
• 生产这种药品需要多种天然原料。(Manufacturing this medicine requires several types of natural raw materials.)

Don't Say

• 将'原料'和'材料'在所有语境中等同使用 (Don't treat 原料 and 材料 as exact synonyms in all contexts — 原料 specifically means unprocessed raw inputs, while 材料 is broader and can include processed components or reference materials)

Origin & History

A compound of 原 (original/source; 厂 cliff + 泉 spring, depicting a source of water) and 料 (material; 米 grain + 斗 measure, indicating measurable stuff). Together they mean the original source material.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal