material / timber
N3- Onyomi
- ザイ
- Stroke count
- 7
- JLPT
- N3
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 材 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a tree with a broad green crown, put 材 inside it, and let that scene stand for "material" — material / timber. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 7
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は7画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 7 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
材料
zairyou
ingredients
人材
jinzai
human resources
取材
shuzai
news gathering
取材する
shuzaisuru
to do news gathering
取材した
shuzaishita
plain past: did news gathering
取材中です
shuzaichuudesu
in the middle of news gathering
Example sentences (5)
カレーの材料を買いに行きます。
かれー の ざいりょう を かい に いきます。
karee no zairyou o kai ni ikimasu.
I am going to buy ingredients for curry.
材料が新しいと、料理の味がぜんぜん違います。
ざいりょう が あたらしい と、りょうり の あじ が ぜんぜん ちがいます。
zairyou ga atarashii to, ryouri no aji ga zenzen chigaimasu.
When the ingredients are fresh, the taste of the dish is completely different.
IT業界は人材が不足しています。
IT ぎょうかい は じんざい が ふそく しています。
IT gyoukai wa jinzai ga fusoku shiteimasu.
The IT industry is short of talent.
日本語ができる人材は、いろいろな会社から求められています。
にほんご が できる じんざい は、いろいろな かいしゃ から もとめられています。
nihongo ga dekiru jinzai wa, iroirona kaisha kara motomerareteimasu.
People who can speak Japanese are in demand at many companies.
新しい素材について研究しています。
あたらしい そざい について けんきゅう しています。
atarashii sozai nitsuite kenkyuu shiteimasu.
We are doing research on new materials.