Definition
材料 (cáiliào) is a broad word for 'material' — it can be physical raw or processed material (like wood or fabric), data/information for research, or even a person's potential ('teacher material'). 原料 (yuánliào) is specifically 'raw material' for manufacturing, while 资料 (zīliào) is 'reference material/data' for study or work.
noun
(raw) materialsubstance used to make somethingdatainformation (for research, study, etc.)(figurative) a person with the potential or natural talent for a certain role
Examples
- 材料。Zhè zhǒng cái liào hěn jiēshi.This kind of material is very sturdy.
- 材料。Wǒ shōují le hěn duō yánjiū cái liào.I have collected a lot of research material.
- 材料。Tā zhēn shì dāng lǎoshī de cái liào.He really is teacher material.
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