無料

• Reading: むりょう
• Romaji: muryou
• Kanji breakdown: 無 (mu) — without, non-; 料 (ryou) — fee, charge
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.ɾʲoː/

Meaning

Free; no charge; complimentary. Without cost or payment.

A no-adjective and noun meaning something provided at no cost. The opposite is 有料 (yuuryou, paid). Extremely common in daily life — signs, websites, and advertisements frequently use 無料. Common expressions include 無料体験 (free trial), 送料無料 (free shipping), and 入場無料 (free admission).

Examples

1. このアプリは無料でダウンロードできる。 You can download this app for free.
2. 駐車場は三時間まで無料です。 Parking is free for up to three hours.
3. 無料のWi-Fiが使えるカフェを探している。 I'm looking for a café with free Wi-Fi.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, services, advertising

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Composed of 無 (without, non-) and 料 (fee, charge). A straightforward compound where the negating prefix 無 cancels out 料 (payment), yielding 'without charge.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal