Japanese word

食材

Pronunciation

Romajishokuzai

Meaning

  • nouningredient

Example

スーパーで食材を買います。sū pā de shoku zai o ka i ma su

I buy ingredients at the supermarket.

Illustration for 食材 (ingredient)

More examples

季節の食材を使うと、料理の味がよくなります。ki setsu no shoku zai o tsuka u to ryō ri no aji ga yo ku na ri ma su

Using seasonal ingredients improves the flavor of a dish.

Core concept

It presents food as something chosen and prepared as part of a larger dish.

Common phrases

  • 食材を使うshoku zai o tsuka u

    use ingredients

  • 食材を買うshoku zai o ka u

    buy ingredients

  • 新鮮な食材shin sen na shoku zai

    fresh ingredients

  • 食材を準備するshoku zai o jun bi su ru

    prepare ingredients

Similar words

材料zairyō: A substance or food used to make a dish, product, or structure.
食品shokuhin: Food prepared or packaged for eating or sale.
食料shokuryō: Food obtained or stored for eating, often as a supply.

Definition in Japanese

料理を作るために使う食べ物。ryō ri o tsuku ru ta me ni tsuka u ta be mono

Word origin

食材 (shokuzai) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 食 (shoku, "food") and 材 (zai, "material"), referring to food used in cooking.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese shopping and cooking contexts, 食材 (shokuzai) refers to the foods that become part of a dish, not usually to seasonings as a general category.

Word lists with this word