Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ingredient" in Korean
“Ingredient” in Korean is 재료 (pronounced "jaelyo").
재료
jaelyo
Usage & Context
Individual component used in cooking. Quality of ingredients affects final dish. Essential to understand each ingredient's role.
Example Sentence
재료를 준비해요.
I prepare the ingredients.
How to use 재료 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ingredient” is 재료, romanized as jaelyo.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 재료.
Pronunciation Guide
재 (jae) sounds like 'Jae' in 'Jae-hyun', rhyming with 'dye' but with a 'j'. 료 (lyo) sounds like 'lyo' in 'lychee' or 'yo' in 'yogurt' preceded by a soft 'l'. Put it together as 'JAE-lyo', with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Praising a meal at a restaurant, highlighting the quality.
이 음식은 신선한 재료로 만들었어요.
This dish was made with fresh ingredients.
Asking a friend for a recipe or shopping list.
김치찌개 재료 뭐 필요해요?
What ingredients do I need for kimchi jjigae?
Explaining why you're leaving to buy groceries.
집에 재료가 없어서 장 보러 가야 해요.
I don't have ingredients at home, so I need to go grocery shopping.
Cultural Context
In Korean cooking, the quality and freshness of '재료' are paramount. Many Koreans believe that '손맛' (sonmat, literally 'hand taste') comes not just from skill but also from selecting and preparing good ingredients with care. Traditional markets (재래시장, jaeraesijang) are still popular for buying fresh produce and meat, though large supermarkets are also widely used.
Editorial note
We review entries like 재료 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
재료 준비
ingredient preparation
신선한 재료
fresh ingredients
요리 재료
cooking ingredients
Related Expressions
식재료
sikjaeryo
food ingredients
원료
wollyo
raw material (broader, industrial)
양념
yangnyeom
seasoning, condiment (a type of ingredient)
부재료
bujaeryo
secondary ingredients, garnishes
More Cooking Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Ingredient and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
