加工

かこう

manufacturing, processing, treatment

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"加工" (jiāgōng) primarily means "to process" or "to manufacture" by transforming raw materials into finished or semi-finished products. It is commonly used in industrial, manufacturing, and food contexts.

Common Contexts

You will often see "加工" used with materials like wood (加工), metal, electronics, or food products (水果加工). It implies a technical or mechanical transformation rather than simple addition.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 加工产品: processed products, referring to goods after manufacturing
  • 加工: processing factory, a place where processing happens
  • 加工技术: processing technology, the methods or skills used

Nuances

Using "加工" suggests a formal or industrial process, often involving machinery or specialized skills. It differs from "制作" (to make) which can be more general or craft-based. Avoid confusing "加工" with "" (to add), which means to add ingredients or substances rather than transform the material.

Summary

"加工" is essential vocabulary for discussing manufacturing, industrial production, and food processing. It conveys the idea of transforming raw materials into usable products through technical means.

Example Sentences

This factory mainly processes electronic product parts.

Wood processing requires specialized equipment and technology.

This batch of fruit is processed into juice for sale.