建材

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 建材 is read けんざい and means materials used in building construction.
• Basic usage: It is used when lumber is put to construction use or materials for walls are stored.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Material and use
  • 木材 identifies wood as the material, while 建材 groups materials by their use in construction.
• として for a role
  • 建材として使う means using something as building material; として identifies that role.