The word 材料 (cáiliào) is mostly a practical, direct term, but one of its uses reveals a common Chinese cultural perspective: assessing people. In English, we might say someone is “not cut out for” a job. In Chinese, it's common to say someone “is” or “is not” the right 材料 for a role (e.g., 他是当老师的材料, “He is teacher material”). This reflects a view where people have certain innate qualities, talents, or a disposition that makes them suitable or unsuitable for specific paths. It's less about a temporary lack of skill and more about a fundamental match between a person's core nature and a position's demands. This contrasts with a more Western emphasis on “you can be anything you want to be,” which focuses on training and ambition over inherent “material.” The Chinese usage of 材料 in this context hints at a more pragmatic, and sometimes deterministic, view of personal potential and social roles. It's not necessarily negative, but rather a way of evaluating suitability and fit.
材料 (cáiliào) is an everyday word used in numerous contexts. Its meaning is always “the stuff needed for X.”
This is the most direct meaning. It's used for construction, manufacturing, cooking, and art.
This is an extremely common usage in academic, business, and bureaucratic settings.
This usage is more idiomatic and assesses a person's suitability for something. It's often used with “是/不是” (is/is not) and “块” (kuài), the measure word for pieces.