教材
きょうざい · kyouzai · JLPT N1 · noun
material
📚 教 (teach) + 材 (material) = teaching materials
材 means timber or raw material, as in 木材 (wood). 教 means teach, as in 教室 (classroom). Together they name the materials used to teach.
教 — 老 (filial son being taught) + 攵 (hand with stick)
教 originally depicted an adult holding a stick or rod (攵) instructing a child, often shown with the element 爻 (lessons/counting) above 子 (child). It is a classic associative compound meaning 'to teach' or 'to instruct,' with the right side suggesting discipline and guidance. The modern meanings 'teach, religion, doctrine' all extend from this image of formal instruction.