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原材料 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
原材料yuáncáiliàoraw materialsHSK 6, unknown, 27 strokes, rank #32057, Hard
原材料yuáncáiliàounprocessed materialsHSK 6, unknown, 27 strokes, rank #32057, Hard
yuáncáiliào(yuan2cai2liao4)yuan cai liao T2
  1. 1raw materials
  2. 2unprocessed materials
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March 24, 2026

原材料yuáncáiliào(yuan2cai2liao4)

原材料 (yuáncáiliào) refers to raw materials or unprocessed materials used in manufacturing or production. It is commonly used in industrial contexts, especially when discussing the inputs required for creating products, such as in construction or manufacturing industries.

Strokes27Frequency#32057DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese manufacturing, the quality of 原材料 is paramount, as it directly influences the final product's quality. The concept is deeply embedded in China's economic development, where industries thrive on sourcing quality raw materials to maintain competitive advantages.

Memory tip

Think of '原' (yuán) as the 'origin' of materials, where everything begins. '材' (cái) represents 'timber' or 'material', and '料' (liào) means 'to materialize'. Imagine a factory where raw wood (timber) is transformed into furniture, illustrating the journey from原 to成品 (chéngpǐn, finished product).

Meanings of 原材料

yuáncáiliào(yuan2cai2liao4)
1raw materials
2unprocessed materials
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About 原材料

原材料Simplified
27Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 原材料

Quick Contrast

原料 (yuánliào) refers to raw materials but can imply a more general or less processed state than 原材料, which emphasizes the materials specifically intended for production processes.

Usage Notes

While '原材料' is primarily used in formal contexts, learners should avoid using it casually in everyday conversation. It's often paired with terms like '采购' (cǎigòu, procurement) or '供应' (gōngyìng, supply) to describe the sourcing and provision of materials. Be mindful of pronunciation, especially the third tone in '材料' which can be mistakenly pronounced as a second tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although '原材料' is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it relates closely to HSK Level 4 themes involving business and industry. Students should focus on understanding how this term interacts with other industry-related vocabulary, enhancing their knowledge of relevant contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '原材料' with '成品' (chéngpǐn, finished product), using them interchangeably. Remember, '原材料' refers to raw inputs, while '成品' signifies the completed goods.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 原材料

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Component Characters

原yuánformer
HSK 510 strokes厂
View full entry
材cáimaterial
7 strokes木
View full entry
料liàomaterial
HSK 610 strokes斗
View full entry

How to say raw materials in Chinese

“raw materials” in Chinese is原材料yuáncáiliào

原材料 (yuáncáiliào) refers to raw materials or unprocessed materials used in manufacturing or production. It is commonly used in industrial contexts, especially when discussing the inputs required for creating products, such as in construction or manufacturing industries.

When to use 原材料

While '原材料' is primarily used in formal contexts, learners should avoid using it casually in everyday conversation. It's often paired with terms like '采购' (cǎigòu, procurement) or '供应' (gōngyìng, supply) to describe the sourcing and provision of materials. Be mindful of pronunciation, especially the third tone in '材料' which can be mistakenly pronounced as a second tone.

原材料 or something close to it

原料 (yuánliào) refers to raw materials but can imply a more general or less processed state than 原材料, which emphasizes the materials specifically intended for production processes.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '原材料' with '成品' (chéngpǐn, finished product), using them interchangeably. Remember, '原材料' refers to raw inputs, while '成品' signifies the completed goods.

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原
材
料

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Frequently Asked Questions about 原材料

Examples include metals, plastic, wood, and textiles used in various industries.

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