料

• Pinyin: liào
• Hanzi breakdown: 料 = 米 (rice) + 斗 (measure), originally measuring grain, extended to materials and estimation

Meaning

To expect; to anticipate; material; ingredients. As a verb, to predict or foresee.

As verb: 料到 (anticipate), 出乎意料 (beyond expectation), 不出所料 (as expected). As noun: material/ingredients (材料, 原料, 资料, 调料). Common idiom: 料事如神 (predict like a god, incredibly foresighted).

Examples

1. 我没料到他会突然辞职，真是出乎意料。 I didn't expect him to suddenly resign; it was truly unexpected.
2. 不出所料，项目最终还是延期了，谁让准备不足呢。 As expected, the project was delayed in the end — no surprise given the lack of preparation.
3. 她料事如神，早就预测到了市场的变化。 She predicts like a god and foresaw the market changes long ago.

Usage Guide

Context: prediction, surprise, planning

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 我早就料到了。(I anticipated this long ago.)
• 结果出乎所有人的意料。(The result exceeded everyone's expectations.)

Don't Say

• 把料和预料完全等同 (料 as verb is more literary/idiomatic; 预料 is more standard for 'anticipate')

Origin & History

Originally meant to measure grain (米 rice + 斗 measure). Extended to materials, then to estimating/anticipating.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal