noun / verb HSK 4
material · ingredient · to expect · to anticipate
Meaning
As a noun, 料 refers to materials, ingredients, or raw substances used to make something. As a verb, it means to expect, anticipate, or predict something. The character combines the rice radical (米) with the measure word 斗, originally suggesting measuring grain.
Usage
Most commonly appears in compounds like 材料 (materials), 饮料 (beverage), 调料 (seasoning), and 资料 (data/materials). As a standalone verb meaning 'to expect', it's more literary and often seen in phrases like 不料 (unexpectedly) or 料到 (to anticipate).
Examples
- 01我没料到他会来。.I didn't expect that he would come.
- 02这道菜需要很多种调料。.This dish requires many kinds of seasonings.
Measure words
- 种一种料
Common collocations
- 原料raw material
- 不料unexpectedly
- 料到to anticipate, to foresee
- 染料dye, dyestuff
Origin
The character originally depicted measuring grain with a dipper (斗) from a rice container (米), suggesting the idea of calculating, measuring, or anticipating amounts.