試料(しりょう)

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

Common collocations

• 試料(しりょう)を採取(さいしゅ)する: to collect a sample
• 試料(しりょう)を分析(ぶんせき)する: to analyze a sample
• 試料(しりょう)を準備(じゅんび)する: to prepare a specimen
• 試料(しりょう)の保存(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

Usage

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.