(しりょう)

しりょう
noun
sample; specimen; test piece
1. sample; specimen; test piece
A small amount of material taken for testing, analysis, or examination. Used in scientific, industrial, and quality-control contexts.
試料(しりょう)採取(さいしゅ)する。
To collect a sample.
試料(しりょう)顕微鏡(けんびきょう)観察(かんさつ)した。
I observed the specimen under a microscope.
実験(じっけん)使(つか)試料(しりょう)は、汚染(おせん)されないように注意(ちゅうい)して保管(ほかん)する必要(ひつよう)がある。
Samples used in experiments must be stored carefully to prevent contamination.

A technical term for a sample or specimen used in scientific analysis, testing, or quality control. Composed of () (test, try) + (りょう) (material).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 試料(しりょう)採取(さいしゅ)する: to collect a sample
  • 試料(しりょう)分析(ぶんせき)する: to analyze a sample
  • 試料(しりょう)準備(じゅんび)する: to prepare a specimen
  • 試料(しりょう)保存(ほぞん): preservation of samples

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 資料(しりょう): materials, documents — a homophone meaning reference materials or documents; completely different meaning
  • 標本(ひょうほん): specimen, sample — used for biological specimens, statistical samples, and museum exhibits
  • サンプル: sample — the loanword from English; more casual and used broadly in both scientific and commercial contexts
  • 検体(けんたい): test specimen — specifically for medical or forensic testing

NOTE:
Be careful not to confuse with the common homophone 資料(しりょう) (documents/materials). In spoken Japanese, context usually makes the distinction clear, but in writing the kanji are different.