How to say "ingredient" in Japanese

• 素材そざいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounFor 'ingredient' as the material something is made from; it also covers materials for art, design, and craft. When the ingredient is specifically a food item, 食材 is the more specific choice.
  この素材そざいは決けっしてすり減へったりしない。↗

  This material never wears out.
• 成分せいぶんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounFor 'ingredient' meaning a component or constituent of a product or substance, as on food, cosmetic, and medicine labels. It points to what something contains, not to food items you cook.
  グリーンピースは鉄分てつぶんが豊富ほうふで爪つめの色いろがよくなる成分せいぶんが含ふくまれている。↗

  Green peas are high in iron and contain nutrients that improve the colour of fingernails.
• 食材しょくざいCommon
  nounFor 'ingredient' in the cooking sense: a food item used to make a dish. This is the word for shopping for, preparing, and combining ingredients in the kitchen.
  来くる途中とちゅう、お店みせに寄よって食材しょくざいを買かって来きたんです。備そなえあれば憂ういなし、です。↗

  On the way we dropped in at the shops and bought foodstuffs. They say well prepared means no worries.
• 原料げんりょうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun'Ingredient' as a raw material for making something, especially in manufacturing and industry: the inputs a product is produced from. For ingredients you cook with, this is not the word you want.
  日本にっぽんはいろんな原料げんりょうに乏とぼしい。↗

  Japan is lacking in raw materials.

Use 食材 for food ingredients in cooking, 成分 for what a product or substance contains, 素材 for materials something is made from, and 原料 for raw materials in manufacturing.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 素材そざいingredient
• 成分せいぶんingredient
• 食材しょくざいfoodstuff
• 原料げんりょうraw materials
• 具材ぐざいmaterial
• 基原きげんingredient (of a crude drug)
• 元もと(raw) material
• たねingredient