Physical substances used to make something, such as cooking ingredients, building materials, or raw materials for manufacturing.
I'm going to buy ingredients for curry.
この机は丈夫な材料でできている。
This desk is made of sturdy materials.
Information, topics, or content used as the basis for a creative work, research, or discussion.
小説の材料を集めるために旅に出た。
I went on a trip to gather material for a novel.
彼の体験が記事のいい材料になった。
His experience became good material for the article.
Facts, data, or information used as a basis for a decision, judgment, or evaluation.
判断の材料が足りないので、もう少し調べます。
I don't have enough grounds for a decision, so I'll look into it a bit more.
このデータは政策を決める材料になる。
This data will serve as a basis for deciding policy.
market factor
Finance term for a piece of information or condition that influences market movements.
為替相場の材料として、雇用統計が注目されている。
Employment statistics are drawing attention as a factor for exchange rates.
I got together the ingredients for this cake.
I'm gathering material to write the report.
First cut the ingredients, then stir-fry them.
He used his own experience as material for his novel.
Let's decide using this data as our basis.
There's little evidence to support that claim.
材料 is the neutral, formal term for material or information used in reporting, whereas ネタ is casual slang for the same idea, often implying juicy or newsworthy content.
材料 is a broad term for materials or ingredients in any context (cooking, construction, data), whereas 原材料 specifically means the basic substances that become part of a manufactured product.
材料 usually refers to concrete ingredients or components used in cooking or manufacturing, whereas マテリアル is a broader, often more abstract or stylish term for material.
材料 emphasizes raw materials used to make something, whereas 成分 emphasizes the analytical breakdown of what something already consists of.
材料 is the general word for ingredients or materials, while 元 refers more specifically to a prepared base, mix, or stock, as in 天ぷらの元.
材料 is a broader word for materials or ingredients in general (including non-raw, processed items), whereas 主原料 refers specifically to the main raw material.
bearish factor; negative market factor
new material; exotic material