Meaning
Whether you are paying a bill or following a recipe, you will encounter 料 everywhere in Japan. This JLPT N4 kanji covers two main concepts: costs (fees) and the building blocks of items (materials). It represents the act of measuring out substances, which applies equally to kitchen ingredients and service charges.
The character's history is easy to visualize. On the left is the radical 米 (rice). On the right is 斗 (a measuring ladle). In ancient Japan, rice functioned as currency. Measuring rice with a ladle was the literal way to prepare a meal or calculate a tax payment. This direct connection explains why the kanji still refers to both physical ingredients and economic value today.
With 10 strokes, it is a Grade 4 kanji. While it looks dense, the 'rice' radical makes it easy to distinguish from similar characters. In modern Japanese, you will rarely see it alone; it almost always appears in compound words (jukugo).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
Learners are in luck because 料 has only one primary reading: リョウ (ryō). This single reading handles everything from food to finance. Because it lacks a common native reading, you can be confident that nearly any word containing this kanji will use the 'ryō' sound.
Key compound examples:
- 料理 (ryōri) — cooking / cuisine
- 料金 (ryōkin) — fee / charge / fare
- 無料 (muryō) — free of charge
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Standard Japanese does not use a Kun'yomi reading for 料. While archaic texts might mention 'hakaru' (to measure), this has been entirely replaced by other kanji in daily life. For the JLPT and general communication, focus exclusively on the On'yomi reading リョウ.
Common Words & Compounds
This kanji is highly versatile. Here is how it functions in different contexts.
Food and Preparation
- 料理 (ryōri) — Cooking or a specific dish.
- 材料 (zairyō) — Ingredients or the raw materials for a project.
- 調味料 (chōmiryō) — Seasoning (literally 'flavor-adjusting materials').
- 飲料 (inryō) — A formal word for beverages.
Fees and Costs
- 料金 (ryōkin) — The general term for a fee or rate.
- 入場料 (nyūjōryō) — Admission or entrance fee.
- 授業料 (jugyōryō) — Tuition or lesson costs.
- 給料 (kyūryō) — Salary or wages.
- 手数料 (tesūryō) — Service charge or handling fee.
- 送料 (sōryō) — Shipping or postage cost.
Information and Resources
- 資料 (shiryō) — Handouts, data, or reference materials.
- 原料 (genryō) — Raw materials used in manufacturing.
- 燃料 (nenryō) — Fuel (literally 'burning material').
Example Sentences
母の料理はいつもとてもおいしいです。
haha no ryōri wa itsumo totemo oishii desu.
My mother's cooking is always delicious.
この美術館の入場料はいくらですか。
kono bijutsukan no nyūjōryō wa ikura desu ka.
How much is it to get into this art museum?
公園のトイレは無料で使えます。
kōen no toire wa muryō de tsukaemasu.
The park restrooms are free to use.
今日は給料日なので、みんなで飲みに行きましょう。
kyō wa kyūryōbi nanode, minna de nomi ni ikimashō.
Today is payday, so let's all go out for a drink.
会議の資料を準備してください。
kaigi no shiryō wo junbi shite kudasai.
Please prepare the handouts for the meeting.
ケーキの材料を買いにスーパーへ行きます。
kēki no zairyō wo kai ni sūpā ni ikimasu.
I'm going to the supermarket to get ingredients for a cake.
日本は燃料のほとんどを輸入しています。
nihon wa nenryō no hotondo wo yunyū shiteimasu.
Japan imports the majority of its fuel.
送料は別に千円かかります。
sōryō wa betsu ni sen'en kakarimasu.
There is an additional shipping charge of 1,000 yen.
授業料を払うのを忘れないでください。
jugyōryō wo harau no wo wasurenaide kudasai.
Please remember to pay your tuition.
料理に合わせて調味料を選びます。
ryōri ni awasete chōmiryō wo erabimasu.
Choose your seasonings to match the dish.
Related Kanji
- 暗 — Dark, Darkness, Gloomy (Kanji N4)
- 転 — Revolve, Turn, Change (Kanji N4)
- 銀 — Silver (Kanji N4)
- 弟 — Younger Brother, Junior (Kanji N4)
- 黒 — Black, Dark (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Think of a chef measuring out 米 (rice) with a 斗 (ladle). To make great 料理 (cooking), you need the right 材料 (materials/ingredients). And because rice was money, measuring it was how you determined the 料金 (fee). Just remember: "Measure the rice to get the materials or the cost."