資料

• Reading: しりょう
• Romaji: shiryou
• Kanji breakdown: 資 (shi) — resources, capital, funds; 料 (ryou) — material, fee, measure
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ɾjoː/

Meaning

Materials; data; documents; information. Reference materials used for study or work.

A noun used broadly for any kind of reference material — printed handouts, digital files, historical documents, or statistical data. Very common in business and academic settings. Often distributed at meetings (資料を配る) or collected for research.

Examples

1. 会議の資料を準備してください。 Please prepare the materials for the meeting.
2. インターネットで資料を集めている。 I'm gathering materials on the internet.
3. この資料はとても参考になった。 These materials were very helpful.

Usage Guide

Context: work, research, meetings

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 資 (shi, resources/capital) and 料 (ryou, material/fee). Together they mean resource materials — items that serve as the basis for study or decision-making.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal