The Kanji: 料 (Ryō)
The kanji 料 means "fee," "charge," or "materials." It combines 米 (rice) with 斗 (measuring container), originally depicting measuring rice for payment or cooking. This character represents financial charges and prepared substances.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 料金 (ryōkin) - Fee
電車の料金を払う。
"Pay the train fare."
2. 料理 (ryōri) - Cooking
日本料理を作る。
"Make Japanese cuisine."
3. 材料 (zairyō) - Ingredients
ケーキの材料を買う。
"Buy cake ingredients."
4. 無料 (muryō) - Free of charge
このサービスは無料です。
"This service is free."
In summary, 料 describes financial charges (料金, 無料) and preparation materials (料理, 材料). It connects economic transactions with culinary preparation in Japanese vocabulary.