The Meaning of shuzai [取材] In Japanese

取材
しゅざい
Romaji: shuzai N3

What does 取材 mean?

Translation and Meaning

coverage, field reporting, information gathering

Definition

取材 means the act of gathering information or material for a report or article, typically through on-site reporting and interviewing sources. It refers to the journalist’s process of collecting facts, sources, and evidence to shape coverage.

Type

Noun, suru-verb (名詞, サ変動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Core sense: collecting materials for a report.
  • Journalistic nuance: used to describe fieldwork including interviews and site visits, not general research.
  • Grammatical usage: 取材 as a noun; 取材する denotes the action of field reporting.

Composition

  • 取: to take, seize, obtain
  • 材: material, resources
  • Combined meaning: the act of taking material or information to prepare a report; in journalism this means gathering material for coverage.

Usage

Used primarily in journalism and media contexts; formal register. Common patterns include 取材に行く (shuzai ni iku), 取材する (shuzai suru), and 現場取材 (genba shuzai). Applied at news desks, press conferences, and field assignments; less common in casual conversation.
💡 Tips
Visualize a journalist taking materials from the scene (取 + 材) to build a story; imagine the kanji as a person grabbing objects for a report, linking the meaning of both characters.

Variations

  • 情報収集, jōhō shūshū
  • 現場取材, genba shuzai
  • 取材を行う, shuzai o okonau

Example Phrases

  • 私は取材のため地元の店を訪ねた。
    Watashi wa shuzai no tame jimoto no mise o tazuneta.
    I visited a local shop for the purpose of an interview.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 取材 (shuzai) – interview/coverage
    • の (no) – of
    • ため (tame) – for
    • 地元の (jimoto no) – local
    • 店を (mise o) – shop
    • 訪ねた (tazuneta) – visited
    取材 means ‘interview/coverage’; here 「取材」 marks the purpose.
取材