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A1 noun #3,314 most common 13 min read

食材

shokuzai Top 3,314

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 食材 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 食材 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 食材 (shokuzai) as a basic noun related to shopping and food. It is one of the first words you will see when you visit a Japanese supermarket. Think of it as the 'stuff' you buy to cook. At this stage, focus on using it with simple verbs like kau (to buy) and aru (to have/exist). For example, you can say 'Shokuzai o kaimasu' (I buy ingredients). You don't need to worry about the complex nuances yet; just recognize that when you are in a kitchen or a store, the food items around you are shokuzai. It is a very useful word for basic daily life in Japan, especially if you plan to do any cooking for yourself. You might also see it in simple picture books or on signs in the vegetable section. Learning the kanji is also helpful: 食 (eat) and 材 (material). Even if you can't write them yet, recognizing them will help you identify where the food is in a store.

At the A2 level, you can start using 食材 (shokuzai) in the context of simple recipes and daily routines. You should be able to describe what kind of ingredients you have or need. Use adjectives like oishii (delicious), shinsenna (fresh), or yasui (cheap) to modify the word. You can also start using it with the particle de to describe what a dish is made of: 'Kono ryori wa yasai no shokuzai de tsukurimasu' (I make this dish with vegetable ingredients). At this stage, you should also be able to distinguish shokuzai from tabemono (food in general). You use shokuzai when you are talking about the items before they are cooked. If you are talking to a friend about your weekend, you might say you went to the market to find 'shinsenna shokuzai.' This shows a slightly higher level of vocabulary than just saying 'food.'

At the B1 level, you should understand the more professional and descriptive nuances of 食材 (shokuzai). You will encounter this word in cooking blogs, magazines, and TV shows. You should be able to discuss the quality of ingredients and the concept of 'Shun' (seasonality). Phrases like 'Shun no shokuzai' (seasonal ingredients) become important. You can also use shokuzai to talk about health and nutrition, such as 'Kenkō ni ii shokuzai' (ingredients that are good for health). At this level, you should also be careful with the distinction between shokuzai and zairyo. Remember that zairyo is for the specific list in a recipe, while shokuzai is for the food items as a category or resource. You might also start using the word in the context of food waste, a common topic in Japanese media, using phrases like 'shokuzai o muda ni shinai' (not wasting ingredients).

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 食材 (shokuzai) in formal and professional contexts. This includes discussing the food industry, restaurant management, and agricultural sourcing. You might use terms like 'shokuzai-hi' (food costs) or 'shokuzai no chōtatsu' (procurement of ingredients). You should also understand the cultural significance of ingredients in Japanese cuisine, where the quality of the shokuzai is often considered more important than the complexity of the cooking technique. You can participate in discussions about 'Jimoto no shokuzai' (local ingredients) and the importance of supporting local farmers. Your ability to use the word in varied contexts—from economic discussions to culinary critiques—will demonstrate a high level of linguistic competence. You should also be able to explain the difference between shokuzai, sozai, and genryo to others.

At the C1 level, you can use 食材 (shokuzai) to discuss complex social and philosophical issues. This includes the ethics of food production, the environmental impact of transporting ingredients (food miles), and the preservation of traditional shokuzai that are at risk of disappearing. You can analyze how the term shokuzai is used in marketing to create a sense of luxury or authenticity. You should be able to read and understand academic or technical texts about food science and agricultural policy where shokuzai is used as a standard term for food inputs. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the subtle emotional weight the word carries in Japanese culture—the idea that ingredients are not just objects, but living things that have been sacrificed for our nourishment. You can use the word in sophisticated metaphors or in-depth culinary essays.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 食材 (shokuzai) is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate and use the word in its most abstract and literary forms. You might discuss the 'ontology of shokuzai' in the context of Japanese aesthetics, or how the selection of shokuzai reflects a chef's world view. You are capable of navigating high-level negotiations in the food industry where the precise definition of shokuzai (in terms of legal standards or quality grades) is critical. You can also critique the use of the word in literature and film, noting how the presence or absence of certain shokuzai can signal a character's social status or emotional state. At this level, you don't just use the word; you understand its place in the vast history of Japanese language and culture, from ancient times to the modern globalized food system.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

食材 in 30 Seconds

Shokuzai means 'ingredients' specifically for food and cooking contexts.
It combines the kanji for 'eat' (食) and 'material' (材).
It is used for raw or pre-cooked items, not the finished meal.
Commonly heard in supermarkets, on cooking shows, and in professional kitchens.

The word 食材 (shokuzai) is a cornerstone of the Japanese culinary vocabulary, particularly when discussing the art and science of cooking. At its simplest level, it translates to "ingredients," but its nuance is deeper than the English equivalent. The term is composed of two kanji: 食 (shoku), meaning "to eat" or "food," and 材 (zai), meaning "material," "resource," or "timber." Together, they literally signify the "materials for eating." This word is used to describe food items in their raw, unprocessed, or semi-processed state before they are transformed into a finished dish (料理 - ryori). While the word 材料 (zairyo) also means ingredients, it is a general term that can apply to construction materials or chemical components. 食材 is specialized for the food industry, home cooking, and gastronomy.

The Concept of Potential: When a Japanese person uses the word shokuzai, they are often highlighting the quality, origin, or potential of the raw components. For example, a chef might say they are looking for the best shokuzai of the season, implying that the quality of the final meal is entirely dependent on the inherent quality of these "materials."

このスーパーは新鮮な食材が豊富です。(Kono sūpā wa shinsenna shokuzai ga hōfu desu.) - This supermarket has an abundance of fresh ingredients.

In everyday life, you will encounter this word in supermarkets, on cooking shows, and in restaurant descriptions. It carries a slightly more professional or formal tone than tabemono (food). If you are at a high-end restaurant, the menu might boast about using "locally sourced shokuzai," emphasizing the connection to the land and the farmer. In the context of the Japanese concept of Washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine), the shokuzai are respected as gifts from nature, and the goal of the cook is to highlight their natural flavors rather than masking them with heavy sauces.

Seasonality (Shun): The term is inextricably linked to the Japanese obsession with seasonality. Shun no shokuzai refers to ingredients that are at their peak of flavor and nutritional value during a specific time of year. Choosing the right shokuzai based on the season is the first step in Japanese culinary mastery.

旬の食材を使って、美味しい料理を作りましょう。(Shun no shokuzai o tsukatte, oishii ryōri o tsukurimashō.) - Let's use seasonal ingredients to make delicious food.

Furthermore, shokuzai is used in technical discussions about food security, supply chains, and food waste (shokuzai-loss). It represents the physical assets of the food industry. When a delivery truck arrives at a restaurant, they are delivering shokuzai. When a researcher studies the chemical composition of a tomato, they are analyzing the shokuzai. It is a versatile noun that bridges the gap between the farm and the kitchen table. Understanding this word helps you navigate Japanese grocery stores and menus with much more clarity.

Professional Usage: Chefs often refer to their "shokuzai-hi" (cost of ingredients) or their "shokuzai-chotatsu" (procurement of ingredients). In these cases, the word takes on a more business-oriented meaning, referring to the inventory required to run a culinary establishment.

高級な食材ばかりを使えば良いというわけではありません。(Kōkyūna shokuzai bakari o tsukaeba yoi to iu wake dewa arimasen.) - It's not necessarily the case that you should only use expensive ingredients.

冷蔵庫にある食材で夕食を作ります。(Reizōko ni aru shokuzai de yūshoku o tsukurimasu.) - I will make dinner with the ingredients currently in the refrigerator.

地元の食材を大切にするレストランです。(Jimoto no shokuzai o taisetsu ni suru resutoran desu.) - This is a restaurant that values local ingredients.

Using 食材 (shokuzai) correctly requires understanding its role as a collective noun for food materials. It often acts as the direct object of verbs related to preparation, purchasing, or appreciation. Because it is a noun, it can be modified by adjectives like shinsenna (fresh), kōkyūna (high-class), or mezurashii (rare). In this section, we will explore the grammatical structures and common verb pairings that will help you sound natural when talking about food in Japanese.

Verbs of Action: Common verbs used with shokuzai include 買う (kau - to buy), 揃える (soroeru - to gather/assemble), 下ごしらえする (shitagoshirae suru - to prep), and 無駄にする (muda ni suru - to waste). For instance, when starting a recipe, you first "soroeru" the shokuzai.

カレーを作るために、必要な食材を揃えました。(Karē o tsukuru tame ni, hitsuyōna shokuzai o soroemashita.) - I gathered the necessary ingredients to make curry.

Another important usage is in the context of sourcing or procurement, often used in business or professional cooking. Verbs like 調達する (chōtatsu suru - to procure) or 仕入れる (shiireru - to stock/buy in bulk) are frequently paired with shokuzai. This emphasizes the logistical aspect of getting the food from the source to the kitchen.

Adjectival Modification: To describe the quality of the ingredients, use Na-adjectives or I-adjectives before the noun. Anzen-na shokuzai (safe ingredients) or oishii shokuzai (tasty ingredients) are common pairings. In modern Japan, yūki shokuzai (organic ingredients) is a trending term.

健康のために、安全な食材を選ぶことが大切です。(Kenkō no tame ni, anzenna shokuzai o erabu koto ga taisetsu desu.) - For the sake of health, it is important to choose safe ingredients.

When discussing food waste, shokuzai is the standard term. You might hear about shokuzai o muda ni shinai (not wasting ingredients). This is a significant cultural value in Japan, rooted in the concept of Mottainai (what a waste!). Using every part of the shokuzai—from the root to the leaf—is considered a sign of a skilled and respectful cook.

Combining with Particles: The particle を (o) is used for actions (buying, prepping). The particle が (ga) is used for existence or state (there are ingredients, the ingredients are fresh). The particle で (de) is used to indicate the means or material (making a dish *with* ingredients).

この料理は、珍しい食材で作られています。(Kono ryōri wa, mezurashii shokuzai de tsukurarete imasu.) - This dish is made with rare ingredients.

冷蔵庫に食材が何もありません。(Reizōko ni shokuzai ga nani mo arimasen.) - There are no ingredients at all in the refrigerator.

余った食材を上手に活用しましょう。(Amatta shokuzai o jōzu ni katsuyō shimashō.) - Let's use the leftover ingredients skillfully.

The word 食材 (shokuzai) is ubiquitous in Japanese society, but it appears most prominently in three specific environments: the supermarket, the media (television and magazines), and the professional kitchen. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the word in the wild and understand the subtle connotations it carries in each setting.

In the Supermarket (Sūpā): When you walk into a Japanese grocery store, you might see signs for shokuzai-bu (ingredient department) or announcements about kyō no osusume shokuzai (today's recommended ingredients). Supermarkets use this word to elevate the status of their products, suggesting that they are providing high-quality materials for your home cooking.

スーパーのチラシで、安い食材をチェックします。(Sūpā no chirashi de, yasui shokuzai o chekku shimasu.) - I check for cheap ingredients in the supermarket flyer.

In the media, specifically cooking shows like "Kyō no Ryōri" (Today's Cooking) or competitive shows like the classic "Iron Chef," shokuzai is used constantly. The narrator might introduce a "theme shokuzai" that the chefs must use. Here, the word takes on a dramatic flair, representing the challenge and the raw beauty of the food. Food bloggers and YouTubers also use the word to discuss the components of their recipes, often focusing on kodawari no shokuzai (ingredients they are particularly picky about).

Professional Gastronomy: In high-end restaurants, especially those serving Kaiseki or French-Japanese fusion, the provenance of the shokuzai is a major selling point. Menus will list the specific farm or prefecture the ingredients came from (e.g., "Hokkaido-san no shokuzai"). This use of the word emphasizes traceability and quality.

このシェフは、最高の食材を探して全国を飛び回っています。(Kono shefu wa, saikō no shokuzai o sagashite zenkoku o tobimawatte imasu.) - This chef travels all over the country looking for the best ingredients.

Finally, you will hear shokuzai in discussions about health and nutrition. Nutritionists and doctors use the word when advising patients on what to eat. They might talk about shokuzai no kumiawase (the combination of ingredients) and how different materials interact to provide better vitamins or minerals. In this context, shokuzai is treated as a functional building block for a healthy body.

The Home Kitchen: Even in a casual home setting, parents might teach their children about shokuzai while cooking together, explaining where a carrot comes from or how to treat a piece of fish with respect. It is a word that carries the weight of Japanese food culture into the home.

子供と一緒に、食材の名前を覚えます。(Kodomo to issho ni, shokuzai no namae o oboemasu.) - I learn the names of ingredients together with my child.

テレビで紹介された食材が売り切れました。(Terebi de shōkai sareta shokuzai ga urikiremashita.) - The ingredients introduced on TV were sold out.

宅配サービスで、新鮮な食材が届きました。(Takuhai sābisu de, shinsenna shokuzai ga todokimashita.) - Fresh ingredients arrived via a delivery service.

While 食材 (shokuzai) is a common word, there are several pitfalls for English speakers, primarily involving the confusion between shokuzai and other similar terms like 材料 (zairyo), 原料 (genryo), and 食べ物 (tabemono). Understanding these distinctions is crucial for achieving natural-sounding Japanese fluency.

Mistake 1: Shokuzai vs. Zairyo: The most common mistake is using shokuzai when zairyo is more appropriate. Zairyo is a broad term for "materials." While you can use zairyo for food (e.g., in a list of ingredients for a cake), you cannot use shokuzai for building materials. If you say "the shokuzai for this house," people will think you are building a house out of food!

❌ この家の食材は木です。(Kono ie no shokuzai wa ki desu.)
✅ この家の材料は木です。(Kono ie no zairyō wa ki desu.) - The material for this house is wood.

Another nuance is that zairyo is often used in recipes to list specific items (e.g., 2 eggs, 100g flour), whereas shokuzai is used to talk about the items as a category or in terms of their source and quality. If you are reading a recipe book, the heading will almost always be "材料" (Ingredients), not "食材".

Mistake 2: Shokuzai vs. Tabemono: Many learners use shokuzai to mean "food" in general. However, tabemono refers to things you can eat, including finished meals. Shokuzai specifically refers to the *components*. You wouldn't call a finished pizza a "shokuzai," but you would call the flour, cheese, and tomatoes the shokuzai for the pizza.

❌ 美味しい食材を食べました。(Oishii shokuzai o tabemashita.)
✅ 美味しい料理を食べました。(Oishii ryōri o tabemashita.) - I ate a delicious meal.

Using shokuzai in the example above sounds like you ate raw ingredients like a bag of flour or a raw onion. While technically possible, it's usually not what the speaker intends. Use ryori (dish/meal) or tabemono (food) for things you actually consume as a finished product.

Mistake 3: Shokuzai vs. Genryo: Genryo (原料) refers to "raw materials" that undergo a significant transformation, often in a factory setting. For example, grapes are the genryo for wine. While grapes are also shokuzai, genryo is used in industrial and chemical contexts. If you are talking about home cooking, stick to shokuzai.

この酒の原料は米です。(Kono sake no genryō wa kome desu.) - The raw material for this sake is rice.

Finally, remember that shokuzai is usually a collective noun. While you can technically count them, people often use it to refer to the whole set of ingredients. Avoid trying to use it for a single piece of food unless you are specifically highlighting its role as a component in a larger dish.

スーパーで食材をたくさん買いました。(Sūpā de shokuzai o takusan kaimashita.) - I bought many ingredients at the supermarket.

どの食材が一番高いですか？(Dono shokuzai ga ichiban takai desu ka?) - Which ingredient is the most expensive?

To master Japanese, you must understand the subtle boundaries between synonyms. 食材 (shokuzai) exists in a web of related terms, each with its own specific register and context. Let's compare shokuzai with its closest relatives: 材料 (zairyo), 素材 (sozai), 原料 (genryo), and 食べ物 (tabemono).

材料 (Zairyo): As mentioned before, zairyo is the most common synonym. It is used in recipe lists and for non-food items. The main difference is that zairyo is functional (what do I need to make this?), while shokuzai is descriptive (what are these food materials?). If you are looking at a recipe, you look at the zairyo section. If you are talking about the quality of the beef you bought, you talk about the shokuzai.

ケーキの材料をメモします。(Kēki no zairyō o memo shimasu.) - I will note down the ingredients for the cake.

素材 (Sozai) is another close synonym. It means "raw material" or "texture." In cooking, sozai is used when emphasizing the natural state of the food, especially in the phrase sozai no aji (the flavor of the material). While shokuzai is the noun for the item, sozai is often used to talk about the quality or the essential nature of that item. A chef who wants to let the food speak for itself will say they value the sozai.

原料 (Genryo): This term is used for raw materials that are processed into something else, where the original form is no longer recognizable. Flour is the genryo for bread. Soybeans are the genryo for soy sauce. Shokuzai is used when the items are still recognizable as food components in a kitchen setting.

ビールは麦を原料としています。(Bīru wa mugi o genryō to shite imasu.) - Beer uses barley as its raw material.

糧 (Kate) is a more literary or metaphorical word for food or nourishment. You might hear it in the phrase kokoro no kate (food for the soul). While shokuzai is physical and practical, kate is spiritual and abstract. You would never use kate to describe the groceries in your bag.

Lastly, shokuryō (食料) or shokuryōhin (食料品) refers to "provisions" or "food products." This is used in macro-economic contexts (food supply) or when referring to the general category of items sold in a grocery store. If you are going to buy "food items" in general, you go to the shokuryōhin-uriba. If you are looking for the specific components for tonight's dinner, you are looking for shokuzai.

世界の食料問題について考えます。(Sekai no shokuryō mondai ni tsuite kangaemasu.) - We think about the global food problem.

この店は珍しい素材を活かした料理が自慢です。(Kono mise wa mezurashii sozai o ikashita ryōri ga jiman desu.) - This shop prides itself on dishes that make the most of rare materials.

パンの材料は小麦粉と水とイーストです。(Pan no zairyō wa komugiko to mizu to īsuto desu.) - The ingredients for bread are flour, water, and yeast.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 材 (zai) originally referred to 'timber' (wood from a tree). In Japanese, it evolved to mean any 'resource,' including 'jinzai' (human resources/talent). So, 'shokuzai' literally views food as the 'talented resources' of the kitchen!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʃɒk.zuː.aɪ/

US /ʃɑk.zu.aɪ/

Japanese has pitch accent rather than stress. In 'shokuzai', the accent is usually flat (Heiban style), meaning the pitch stays relatively consistent throughout.

Rhymes With

Banzai (万歳) Zai (材) Ai (愛) Sai (祭) Kai (会) Tai (タイ) Mai (毎) Gai (外)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'zai' as 'zay' (like 'day'). It should be 'zai' (like 'die').
Over-emphasizing the 'u' in 'shoku'. It is often nearly silent in natural speech.
Confusing the pitch with 'shokuzai' (atonement/expiation), though the kanji are different.
Stressing the first syllable too hard like an English word.
Pronouncing the 'sh' as a 's' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The kanji are common but require some study for beginners.

Writing 3/5

The kanji for 'zai' (材) can be tricky to remember compared to 'shoku' (食).

Speaking 1/5

Very easy to pronounce once you learn 'shoku' and 'zai'.

Listening 2/5

Clearly spoken, but watch out for the 'shokuzai' homophone.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

食 (Shoku - Eat) 料理 (Ryōri - Cooking) 野菜 (Yasai - Vegetables) 肉 (Niku - Meat) 買う (Kau - Buy)

Learn Next

材料 (Zairyō - Ingredients/Materials) 調味料 (Chōmiryō - Seasoning) 献立 (Kondate - Menu) 鮮度 (Sendo - Freshness) 産地 (Sanchi - Origin)

Advanced

滋養 (Jiyō - Nourishment) 吟味 (Ginmi - Careful selection) 豊穣 (Hōjō - Abundant harvest) 食糧安全保障 (Shokuryō anzen hoshō - Food security) 地産地消 (Chisan-chishō - Local production for local consumption)

Grammar to Know

Noun + を + Verb (Object marker)

食材を買う (Buy ingredients)

Noun + で + Verb (Means/Material marker)

食材で作る (Make with ingredients)

Adjective + Noun

新鮮な食材 (Fresh ingredients)

Noun + の + Noun (Possessive/Descriptive)

旬の食材 (Seasonal ingredients)

Noun + が + あります (Existence)

食材があります (There are ingredients)

Examples by Level

スーパーで食材を買います。

I buy ingredients at the supermarket.

食材 (shokuzai) is the object of the verb 買います (kaimasu).

冷蔵庫に食材がありますか？

Are there any ingredients in the refrigerator?

Uses the existence verb あります (arimasu) for inanimate objects.

これは何の食材ですか？

What ingredient is this?

何の (nan no) means 'what kind of'.

卵は大切な食材です。

Eggs are an important ingredient.

A simple AはBです (A is B) sentence.

安い食材を探しています。

I am looking for cheap ingredients.

探しています (sagashite imasu) is the continuous form of 'to look for'.

今日の食材はこれです。

Today's ingredients are these.

Used to introduce a set of items.

野菜の食材を買いましょう。

Let's buy vegetable ingredients.

買いましょう (kaimashō) is the 'let's' form.

食材を洗ってください。

Please wash the ingredients.

洗ってください (aratte kudasai) is a polite request.

新鮮な食材で料理を作ります。

I make food with fresh ingredients.

The particle で (de) indicates the means or material.

どの食材を使いましょうか？

Which ingredient shall we use?

使いましょうか (tsukaimashō ka) is a suggestion/question.

この食材はどこで買いましたか？

Where did you buy this ingredient?

Past tense question.

美味しい食材が届きました。

Delicious ingredients have arrived.

届きました (todokimashita) means 'arrived'.

食材を細かく切ります。

I will cut the ingredients into small pieces.

細かく (komakaku) is the adverbial form of 'small/fine'.

冷凍の食材を使ってもいいですか？

Is it okay to use frozen ingredients?

～てもいいですか (te mo ii desu ka) asks for permission.

食材を無駄にしないでください。

Please don't waste the ingredients.

～ないでください (naide kudasai) is a negative request.

たくさんの食材を揃えました。

I gathered many ingredients.

揃えました (soroemashita) means 'gathered' or 'assembled'.

旬の食材は栄養が豊富です。

Seasonal ingredients are rich in nutrition.

旬 (shun) refers to the best season for a food.

珍しい食材を使って、新しい料理に挑戦します。

I will try making a new dish using rare ingredients.

挑戦します (chōsen shimasu) means 'to challenge' or 'to try'.

食材の保存方法を教えてください。

Please tell me how to preserve the ingredients.

保存方法 (hozon hōhō) means 'preservation method'.

このレストランは地元の食材にこだわっています。

This restaurant is particular about using local ingredients.

こだわっています (kodawatte imasu) means 'to be picky/particular about'.

食材の味を活かすために、薄味にします。

To bring out the flavor of the ingredients, I will season it lightly.

活かす (ikasu) means 'to make the most of' or 'to leverage'.

アレルギーがあるので、食材を確認します。

I have allergies, so I will check the ingredients.

確認します (kakunin shimasu) means 'to confirm' or 'to check'.

余った食材で、もう一品作りましょう。

Let's make one more dish with the leftover ingredients.

一品 (ippin) means 'one dish' or 'an item'.

食材の組み合わせによって、味が変わります。

The taste changes depending on the combination of ingredients.

～によって (ni yotte) means 'depending on'.

高級な食材を使えば良い料理ができるとは限りません。

Using expensive ingredients doesn't necessarily mean a good dish will be made.

～とは限りません (to wa kagirimasen) means 'not necessarily'.

食材の仕入れルートを確保するのは大変です。

It is difficult to secure a procurement route for ingredients.

仕入れ (shiire) refers to stocking or buying for business.

安全な食材を提供することが、私たちの使命です。

Providing safe ingredients is our mission.

提供する (teikyō suru) means 'to provide' or 'to offer'.

この食材は、厳しい品質管理をパスしています。

This ingredient has passed strict quality control.

品質管理 (hinshitsu kanri) means 'quality control'.

食材のロスを減らすための取り組みが注目されています。

Efforts to reduce ingredient loss are gaining attention.

取り組み (torikumi) means 'effort' or 'initiative'.

特定の食材に対する需要が急増しています。

The demand for specific ingredients is rapidly increasing.

需要 (juyō) means 'demand'.

食材本来の旨みを引き出す調理法を学びます。

I will learn cooking methods that bring out the original umami of the ingredients.

引き出す (hikidasu) means 'to pull out' or 'to elicit'.

海外から珍しい食材を輸入しています。

We are importing rare ingredients from overseas.

輸入 (yunyū) means 'import'.

食材の産地偽装問題は、消費者の信頼を大きく損ないました。

The issue of falsifying the origin of ingredients greatly damaged consumer trust.

産地偽装 (sanchi gisō) means 'falsifying place of origin'.

持続可能な食材選びが、地球の未来を守ることに繋がります。

Choosing sustainable ingredients leads to protecting the future of the Earth.

持続可能な (jizoku kanōna) means 'sustainable'.

伝統的な食材の継承が、食文化の多様性を維持するために不可欠です。

Passing down traditional ingredients is essential for maintaining the diversity of food culture.

不可欠 (fukaketsu) means 'indispensable' or 'essential'.

食材の機能性成分に関する研究が、医療分野でも期待されています。

Research on the functional components of ingredients is expected even in the medical field.

機能性成分 (kinōsei seibun) means 'functional components'.

シェフは食材との対話を通じて、一皿の物語を紡ぎ出します。

Through dialogue with the ingredients, the chef weaves the story of a single dish.

対話 (taiwa) means 'dialogue'; 紡ぎ出す (tsumugidasu) means 'to spin/weave out'.

食材の流通網が寸断されると、都市の食料供給は危機に陥ります。

If the distribution network for ingredients is cut off, urban food supply falls into crisis.

流通網 (ryūtsū mō) means 'distribution network'.

食材の価格高騰が、家計に深刻な影響を及ぼしています。

The soaring prices of ingredients are having a serious impact on household finances.

価格高騰 (kakaku kōtō) means 'price surge/soaring'.

あらゆる食材を無駄なく使い切る「始末の心」が大切です。

The 'spirit of shimatsu' (thrift/management) to use up all ingredients without waste is important.

使い切る (tsukaikiru) means 'to use up completely'.

食材の深淵を覗き込むような、求道的な料理への姿勢に圧倒されました。

I was overwhelmed by the stoic, truth-seeking attitude toward cooking, as if peering into the abyss of the ingredients.

求道的 (kyūdōteki) means 'seeking the way' (often used for spiritual or artistic pursuit).

自然界の摂理に従って育まれた食材には、抗いがたい生命力が宿っています。

Ingredients nurtured according to the providence of the natural world possess an irresistible life force.

摂理 (setsuri) means 'providence' or 'natural law'.

食材のアイデンティティを解体し、再構築するガストロノミーの最前線。

The forefront of gastronomy, which deconstructs and reconstructs the identity of ingredients.

解体 (kaitai) means 'deconstruction/dismantling'.

土壌の微細な変化が、食材の風味に決定的な差異をもたらすのです。

Minute changes in the soil bring about decisive differences in the flavor of the ingredients.

微細な (bisaina) means 'minute' or 'microscopic'.

食材の「旬」という概念自体が、現代の物流システムによって変容を迫られています。

The very concept of 'seasonality' for ingredients is being forced to transform by modern logistics systems.

変容 (henyō) means 'transformation'.

名もなき食材に光を当て、新たな価値を創造するのがプロの矜持です。

It is a professional's pride to shine a light on nameless ingredients and create new value.

矜持 (kyōji/kinji) means 'pride' or 'dignity'.

食材の調達における倫理的葛藤は、飽食の時代に生きる我々への問いかけです。

Ethical conflicts in the procurement of ingredients are a question posed to those of us living in an age of gluttony.

飽食 (hōshoku) means 'satiety' or 'overeating/gluttony'.

食材が持つポテンシャルを極限まで引き出すことは、一種の芸術表現と言えるでしょう。

Bringing out the potential of ingredients to the limit can be called a type of artistic expression.

極限 (kyokugen) means 'the limit' or 'extreme'.

Synonyms

材料食料食品原料食べ物

Antonyms

料理完成品

Common Collocations

食材を揃える

新鮮な食材

旬の食材

食材にこだわる

食材を無駄にする

地元の食材

食材の仕入れ

珍しい食材

食材の組み合わせ

高級な食材

Common Phrases

食材の宝庫

— A treasure trove of ingredients. Used to describe a region rich in produce.

北海道は食材の宝庫です。

食材を活かす

— To make the most of the ingredients. To cook in a way that highlights the natural flavor.

食材を活かす調理法を選びます。

食材ロス

— Ingredient loss/food waste. A major social issue in Japan.

食材ロスを減らす工夫が必要です。

食材宅配

— Ingredient delivery service. Very popular for busy families in Japan.

食材宅配を利用して時短します。

厳選された食材

— Carefully selected ingredients. Common in restaurant marketing.

厳選された食材のみを使用しています。

食材の下ごしらえ

— Preparation of ingredients (peeling, chopping, marinating).

食材の下ごしらえに時間がかかります。

食材の持ち味

— The inherent qualities or flavor of an ingredient.

食材の持ち味を損なわないようにします。

安心・安全な食材

— Safe and trustworthy ingredients. A standard phrase for food quality.

子供には安心・安全な食材を食べさせたい。

食材の産地

— The place of origin for the ingredients.

食材の産地をメニューに記載します。

食材マニア

— An ingredient enthusiast or 'foodie' focused on raw materials.

彼は有名な食材マニアです。

Often Confused With

食材 vs 贖罪 (Shokuzai)

Same pronunciation, but means 'atonement' or 'expiation'. Kanji are completely different.

食材 vs 材料 (Zairyō)

General term for materials. Used in recipe lists, but 'shokuzai' is more specific to food items themselves.

食材 vs 素材 (Sozai)

Focuses on the raw, natural state or quality. Often used for fabric or artistic materials as well.

Idioms & Expressions

"食材が泣く"

— Literally 'the ingredients cry'. Used when high-quality ingredients are ruined by poor cooking.

こんなに焼きすぎたら食材が泣くよ。

Casual/Culinary

"食材を殺す"

— To 'kill' the ingredients. To ruin the natural flavor of a food item.

ソースが強すぎて、食材を殺している。

Professional/Critical

"食材と向き合う"

— To 'face' the ingredients. To focus deeply on the materials while cooking.

一流の料理人は食材と向き合います。

Serious/Artistic

"食材の命をいただく"

— To receive the life of the ingredients. Reflects the gratitude felt before eating.

食材の命をいただくことに感謝します。

Polite/Spiritual

"食材が主役"

— The ingredients are the star. Used when a dish is simple to highlight the quality of the food.

このサラダは食材が主役です。

Neutral

"食材に教わる"

— To be taught by the ingredients. A humble way of saying the ingredients dictate the cooking method.

毎日、食材に教わることがあります。

Professional/Humble

"食材が踊る"

— The ingredients dance. Used to describe very fresh seafood (like shrimp) that still moves, or a lively dish.

新鮮すぎて、お皿の上で食材が踊っています。

Casual/Expressive

"食材を宝物のように扱う"

— To treat ingredients like treasure. To handle food with extreme care.

彼は食材を宝物のように扱います。

Admiring

"食材の声を聴く"

— To listen to the voice of the ingredients. A metaphorical expression for understanding the state of the food.

名人は食材の声を聴きながら揚げます。

Masterful/Esoteric

"食材で季節を感じる"

— To feel the season through the ingredients.

食材で季節を感じるのは日本の美徳です。

Cultural

Easily Confused

食材 vs 材料 (Zairyō)

Both translate to 'ingredients'.

Zairyō is functional and used for any material (wood, metal, food list). Shokuzai is strictly for food as a resource.

料理の材料 (List of things for cooking) vs. 良い食材 (Good quality food items).

食材 vs 原料 (Genryō)

Both refer to things used to make food.

Genryō is the raw material before processing (e.g., wheat for bread). Shokuzai is the food item in the kitchen.

ビールの原料 (Barley for beer) vs. サラダの食材 (Vegetables for salad).

食材 vs 食料 (Shokuryō)

Both start with 'shoku' and relate to food.

Shokuryō refers to food supply or provisions (macro). Shokuzai refers to specific ingredients (micro).

食料自給率 (Food self-sufficiency) vs. 今日の食材 (Today's ingredients).

食材 vs 食べ物 (Tabemono)

Both mean food.

Tabemono is anything edible. Shokuzai is the component part before it's a finished dish.

美味しい食べ物 (Tasty food) vs. 新鮮な食材 (Fresh ingredients).

食材 vs 具 (Gu)

Both are things inside a dish.

Gu refers specifically to the solid pieces inside something (like soup or a bun). Shokuzai is the overall ingredient.

味噌汁の具 (The tofu/seaweed in the soup) vs. 味噌汁の食材 (The miso, dashi, and veggies).

Sentence Patterns

[Food]は[Adjective]食材です。

トマトは赤い食材です。

[Place]で[Adjective]食材を買いました。

市場で新鮮な食材を買いました。

[Season]の食材を使って、[Dish]を作ります。

秋の食材を使って、炊き込みご飯を作ります。

食材の[Property]を活かすために、[Action]します。

食材の旨みを活かすために、塩だけで味付けします。

食材の[Problem]が、[Result]に繋がっています。

食材の廃棄が、環境問題に繋がっています。

食材という[Metaphor]を通じて、[Concept]を表現する。

食材という自然の恵みを通じて、生命の尊さを表現する。

All

冷蔵庫に食材が[Amount]あります。

冷蔵庫に食材がたくさんあります。

All

この食材の[Part]は食べられません。

この食材の皮は食べられません。

Word Family

Nouns

食 (Shoku - Food/Eating)

材 (Zai - Material)

食材費 (Shoku-zai-hi - Ingredient costs)

食材店 (Shoku-zai-ten - Ingredient shop)

料理 (Ryōri - Cooking)

献立 (Kondate - Menu/Meal plan)

厨房 (Chūbō - Kitchen)

市場 (Ichiba - Market)

鮮度 (Sendo - Freshness)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely frequent in culinary, domestic, and retail contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 'shokuzai' for building materials. → 材料 (zairyō)
Shokuzai is only for food. Zairyō is for everything else.
Calling a finished burger 'shokuzai'. → 料理 (ryōri) or 食べ物 (tabemono)
Shokuzai is the raw material, not the finished product.
Pronouncing 'zai' as 'zay'. → Zai (rhymes with 'buy')
Japanese 'ai' is a diphthong like 'eye'.
Using 'shokuzai' as a heading for a recipe list. → 材料 (zairyō)
While shokuzai means ingredients, zairyō is the standard formatting for lists.
Confusing 'shokuzai' (ingredients) with 'shokuryō' (food supply). → Use 'shokuzai' for specific items in your bag.
Shokuryō is for large-scale provisions or national food security.

Tips

Pair with 'Shun'

Always try to use 'shun no shokuzai' (seasonal ingredients) to sound like a native. It shows you understand Japanese culture.

Remember the Tree

The 'zai' in 'shokuzai' has the tree radical (木). Think of ingredients as the 'wood' you use to build a 'house' of a meal.

Look for the Sign

In Japanese supermarkets, look for the '食材' kanji to find the raw produce sections.

Respect the Ingredient

Japanese people often speak about 'shokuzai' with a sense of gratitude. Using the word carefully reflects this respect.

Ingredient Costs

If you work in a restaurant, 'shokuzai-hi' is the term for your food costs. It's a key metric in the industry.

Functional Ingredients

When discussing health, 'kinōsei shokuzai' refers to ingredients with specific health benefits.

Cooking Shows

Listen to the narrator on cooking shows; they use 'shokuzai' to introduce the star of the dish.

Complimenting

Saying 'Shokuzai ga ii desu ne' (The ingredients are good, aren't they?) is a high compliment for a host.

Food Loss

The term 'shokuzai loss' is the common way to talk about food waste in modern Japan.

Word Web

Connect 'shokuzai' to 'ryōri' (cooking) and 'daidokoro' (kitchen) in your mind to build a semantic map.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'SHOCK' and 'ZAI' (rhymes with 'buy'). It's a SHOCK how many ingredients you have to ZAI (buy) to make a good meal!

Visual Association

Imagine a wooden crate (the 'zai' for material) filled with fresh vegetables and fish (the 'shoku' for eating).

Word Web

Supermarket Cooking Fresh Vegetables Meat Recipe Chef Nutrition

Challenge

Go to a Japanese grocery store (or look at a website like Rakuten Ichiba) and find five items labeled as 'shokuzai'. Write down their names.

Word Origin

The word 'Shokuzai' is a Sino-Japanese compound (kango). It was formed by combining the characters for 'eat' and 'material'. Historically, 'zai' was used for timber or resources, and its application to food became standardized in the modern era to distinguish culinary ingredients from other types of materials.

Original meaning: Materials used for food.

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

Cultural Context

Be aware that 'shokuzai' (食材) sounds exactly like 'shokuzai' (贖罪 - atonement). Context usually prevents confusion, but in writing, the kanji are vital.

English speakers often just say 'ingredients,' but 'shokuzai' has a more 'foodie' or 'professional' feel, similar to how a chef might talk about 'produce' or 'provisions.'

The TV show 'Iron Chef' (Ryōri no Tetsujin) made 'theme shokuzai' famous. The manga 'Oishinbo' often has long arcs about finding the perfect shokuzai. The movie 'Little Forest' focuses heavily on the process of growing and preparing shokuzai.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Supermarket Shopping

新鮮な食材はありますか？
食材のコーナーはどこですか？
この食材は安いです。
食材を買いすぎました。

Cooking Class

食材を準備してください。
食材を切りましょう。
食材の味を確認します。
珍しい食材を使います。

Restaurant Review

食材の質が高いです。
食材の良さが活きています。
こだわりの食材を感じます。
旬の食材が素晴らしい。

Nutrition Discussion

健康に良い食材を選びます。
食材の栄養素を調べます。
バランスの良い食材です。
食材の安全性が重要です。

Food Waste (Environmental)

食材を無駄にしません。
余った食材を活用します。
食材ロスを減らしたい。
食材を大切に扱います。

Conversation Starters

"最近、何か珍しい食材を買いましたか？ (Have you bought any rare ingredients lately?)"

"料理をする時、一番こだわる食材は何ですか？ (When you cook, what ingredient are you most particular about?)"

"あなたの国で有名な食材は何ですか？ (What is a famous ingredient in your country?)"

"冷蔵庫にいつも入っている食材は何ですか？ (What ingredient is always in your refrigerator?)"

"旬の食材で一番好きなものは何ですか？ (What is your favorite seasonal ingredient?)"

Journal Prompts

今日スーパーで買った食材について書いてください。 (Write about the ingredients you bought at the supermarket today.)

あなたが一番大切だと思う食材とその理由。 (The ingredient you think is most important and the reason why.)

食材を無駄にしないために、どんな工夫をしていますか？ (What kind of efforts do you make to avoid wasting ingredients?)

地元の食材を使った料理の思い出。 (Memories of a dish made with local ingredients.)

将来、使ってみたい珍しい食材について。 (About a rare ingredient you want to try using in the future.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Technically yes, but seasonings are usually called 'chōmiryō' (調味料). 'Shokuzai' usually refers to the main components like vegetables, meat, or fish.

It is neutral to slightly formal. It is the standard word used in supermarkets and media. In very casual talk, people might just say 'mono' (things) or 'tabemono' (food).

'Sozai' emphasizes the raw, natural quality. A chef who wants to 'respect the sozai' is focused on the purity of the ingredient. 'Shokuzai' is a more practical noun for the items themselves.

You should use '材料' (zairyō). While 'shokuzai' means ingredients, 'zairyō' is the conventional heading for lists.

Usually not. 'Shokuzai' implies food for human consumption. Pet food ingredients are often called 'genryō' or simply 'zairyō'.

In Japanese, it's used collectively. You don't say 'one shokuzai, two shokuzais.' You say 'hitotsu no shokuzai' or 'shokuzai no shurui' (types of ingredients).

Because '材' means 'material' or 'resource'. It's the same logic as 'human resources' or 'building materials'.

Usually no. It refers to solid food items. Ingredients for drinks are often called 'zairyō'.

No. A sandwich is 'ryōri' or 'tabemono'. The bread, ham, and lettuce are the 'shokuzai'.

Yes, in food science, it is the standard term for the materials being studied.