Overview
The character 料 (liào) primarily means 'ingredients' or 'materials' and is commonly used in contexts involving cooking, manufacturing, or any situation where physical components are involved. It also functions as a verb meaning 'to expect' or 'to anticipate,' often used in expressions about predicting outcomes.
Common Uses
- As a noun, 料 refers to tangible materials or ingredients, e.g., 食料 (food supplies), 原料 (raw materials).
- As a verb, it appears in phrases like 料到 (to anticipate) or 料想 (to expect).
Collocations and Patterns
- 做饭的料 (ingredients for cooking): used when talking about food preparation.
- 料不到 (did not expect): expresses surprise or unexpected results.
- 料事如神 (to predict events accurately): a fixed expression praising someone's foresight.
Usage Notes
When used as a verb, 料 often appears in negative or interrogative sentences to express surprise or doubt about an outcome. As a noun, it is often combined with other characters to specify the type of material. Avoid confusing 料 with 了 (le), which is a particle indicating completed action.
Common Confusion
Learners sometimes confuse 料 as only meaning 'material' and overlook its verbal use related to expectation. Pay attention to context to distinguish these meanings.