食料

• Reading: しょくりょう
• Romaji: shokuryou
• Kanji breakdown: 食 (shoku) — food, eating; 料 (ryou) — materials, fee
• Pronunciation: /ɕo.kɯ.ɾʲoː/

Meaning

Food; food supplies. Materials used as food.

A noun referring to food as a resource or supply, often in the context of food production, distribution, or stockpiling. Commonly appears in compounds like 食料品 (groceries) and 食料品店 (grocery store). More practical and supply-oriented than 食物, which is more academic.

Examples

1. 台風に備えて食料を買っておいた。 I stocked up on food in preparation for the typhoon.
2. この国は食料の多くを輸入している。 This country imports much of its food.
3. 食料品の値段が上がっている。 The price of groceries is going up.

Usage Guide

Context: disaster preparedness, economics, shopping

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 食 (food, eating) and 料 (materials, fee). Together they frame food as material resources, emphasizing the supply aspect rather than the act of eating.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal