テーマ

• Reading: てーま
• Romaji: teema
• Pronunciation: /teː.ma/

Meaning

Theme; topic; subject matter. The central subject or idea of a work, discussion, or event.

A katakana loanword from German 'Thema' (theme). テーマ is used broadly for the main subject of presentations, essays, movies, parks, and more. Common collocations include テーマパーク (theme park), テーマ曲 (theme song), and テーマを決める (to decide on a theme).

Examples

1. 今回の発表のテーマは環境問題だ。 The theme of this presentation is environmental issues.
2. テーマに合った資料を集めている。 I'm gathering materials related to the theme.
3. この映画のテーマは家族の絆だった。 The theme of this movie was family bonds.

Usage Guide

Context: academics, presentations, media, entertainment

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from German 'Thema' (theme, topic), itself from Greek 'thema.' Entered Japanese during the Meiji era alongside many European academic terms.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal