Literal meaning: food or supplies needed for survival, often used in contexts like travel, expeditions, or emergencies.
We prepared enough provisions before the mountain climb.
nourishment; sustenance; source of encouragement
Only with reading かて
Figurative use: something that feeds the mind, spirit, or life, such as experiences, knowledge, or emotional support. Restricted to reading かて.
Reading is nourishment for the mind.
He turned his failure into fuel for growth and started working harder.
They took dried meat as food for the journey.
My friend's words became a source of encouragement to live.
His words became a source of strength for the rest of my life.
栄養 means nutrition in a physical, biological sense, while 糧 can extend to mental or spiritual sustenance.
食糧 refers specifically to staple food supplies (e.g. for a nation or army), whereas 糧 is broader and can also mean figurative nourishment.
糧 is a more native, literary word for sustenance or livelihood, while パン in its metaphorical sense ('bread' as basic sustenance) is a translation-style borrowing mainly used in fixed expressions.
Standard kanji spelling for both literal and figurative senses.
Variant kanji form; less common than 糧.
The kanji 糧 combines 米 (rice) and 量 (measure), suggesting measured grain or food. The reading かて is a native Japanese word (kun'yomi). The variant 粮 is a simplified form. The figurative sense developed from the idea of food as essential sustenance.