JLPT N2 · Japanese kanji

材

材 — lumber

Reading
ザイ
Meaning
lumber; log; timber; wood; materials; ingredients; talent
JLPT level
N2
Language
Japanese

About this kanji

材 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N2 level. Its primary reading is ザイ and it means lumber; log; timber; wood; materials; ingredients; talent. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

材 appears in everyday japanese words such as 人材 (man of talent), 取材 (choice of subject) and 教材 (teaching materials).

Japanese words containing 材

Frequently asked questions

What does 材 mean in Japanese?

材 means lumber; log; timber; wood; materials; ingredients; talent in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N2 kanji every learner meets at that level.

How is 材 read?

材 is read ザイ. Reading it inside real words — 人材 and 取材 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 材 — is it JLPT N2?

Yes. 材 is on the official JLPT N2 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 材 in a word?

A common word containing 材 is 人材 (じんざい) — "man of talent". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 材 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 材 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More JLPT N2 kanji

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