noun
ingredient; raw material; resource
Broadly used for physical ingredients, raw materials for manufacturing, or resources for creative work (e.g., data, footage, ideas).
料理の素材はすべて地元で調達しています。
All the ingredients for the dish are sourced locally.
I recorded the interview as material for this article.
noun
unprocessed timber; raw timber
Specific use in woodworking and construction for timber that has not yet been processed.
この工務店は、山から切り出した素材をそのまま使っている。
This workshop uses unprocessed timber straight from the mountain.
noun
Used for the subject or theme of a creative work, discussion, or study.
彼の小説は、家族の絆を素材にしている。
His novel takes family bonds as its subject matter.