題材

• Reading: だいざい
• Romaji: daizai
• Kanji breakdown: 題 (dai) — theme, title, subject; 材 (zai/ki) — material, timber
• Pronunciation: /da.i.za.i/

Meaning

Subject matter; material; theme; topic. The raw subject from which a work of art, literature, or journalism is fashioned.

Slightly more concrete than テーマ (theme); 題材 refers to the actual subject or source material an artist draws upon, while テーマ refers to the abstract idea explored. Often used in the construction ～を題材にする (to use ~ as subject matter). Common in literary criticism, art criticism, and journalism.

Examples

1. 彼は身近な日常生活を題材にして詩を書き続けた。 He continued to write poetry using everyday life as his subject matter.
2. 戦争を題材とした小説は時代を超えて読まれ続ける。 Novels that take war as their subject matter continue to be read across generations.
3. 画家は自分の故郷の風景を題材に生涯を通じて描き続けた。 The painter spent his entire life depicting the landscapes of his hometown as his subject matter.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, art, journalism, education, creative writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 題 (title, theme) and 材 (material, timber). The metaphor of 材 as raw material that must be shaped into a finished work is central to the word's meaning.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal