material

Compared meaning: the substance something is made of (noun).

比较义项：构成事物的材料、物质（名词）。

• material 本词

  Names a specific, identifiable substance (cotton, metal, wood); neutral register, used in both casual and technical contexts, often with 'made from/of'.

  指可以说出具体名称的材料（如棉、金属、木材）；语气中性，口语和专业场合都常用，常与“made from/of”搭配。

  This jacket is made from a soft, warm material.

  这件夹克是用一种柔软保暖的材料做成的。

• stuff

  Vague, informal word for a substance whose exact identity is unknown, unimportant, or not worth naming; sounds casual, even careless in formal writing.

  口语化、笼统的说法，指不知道、不重要或懒得说明具体名称的物质；语气随意，用在正式书面语中会显得不够严谨。

  There's some sticky stuff on the table that I can't identify.

  桌子上有些黏糊糊的东西，我认不出是什么。

Material and stuff both mean the substance something is made from. Material names a specific substance, like cotton or metal, and sounds neutral. Stuff is informal and vague, used when you don't know or don't care about the exact substance.

两者都可以指“做成某物的物质”，但 material 通常指可以说出具体名称的材料，语气中性、正式；stuff 是口语化的笼统说法，用于说不清或不想说清材质时。这里不比较 stuff 表示“东西、随身物品”的义项（如 put your stuff away）。