材料

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 材料 (cái liào) is composed of two characters: 材 (cái) and 料 (liào). The character 材 originally meant "wood" or "timber", but its meaning has been extended to include "material" in a general sense. The character 料 originally meant "to measure" or "to estimate", but its meaning has also been extended to include "material" or "ingredient".When combined, the two characters 材料 (cái liào) mean "material" or "ingredient". This word is used in a wide variety of contexts, including cooking, construction, and manufacturing. For example, in cooking, 材料 (cái liào) refers to the ingredients used to make a dish. In construction, 材料 (cái liào) refers to the materials used to build a structure. In manufacturing, 材料 (cái liào) refers to the raw materials used to make a product.The word 材料 (cái liào) is also used in a figurative sense to refer to the information or evidence used to support an argument or claim. For example, in a debate, 材料 (cái liào) refers to the evidence used to support one's position. In a research paper, 材料 (cái liào) refers to the sources used to support one's findings.The word 材料 (cái liào) is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. Its meaning is derived from the meanings of its two component characters, 材 (cái) and 料 (liào).