無料 is the formal word for 'free of charge.' It functions as a noun and as a no-adjective (無料の). The kanji literally mean 'no' (無) + 'fee' (料).
Common patterns
- 無料で (for free — with particle で)
- 無料の + noun (free ~)
- 入場無料 (free admission)
- 送料無料 (free shipping)
- 無料体験 (free trial)
- 無料サンプル (free sample)
Similar words
- ただ / タダ: free (casual, spoken)
- 無料: free (formal, written, signs)
- 無償: free, without compensation (legal/official contexts)
- 有料: paid, requiring payment