題 材(だいざい)

だいざい

noun

subject matter; material; theme

1. subject matter; material; theme

The subject or material that forms the basis of a creative work such as a novel, film, painting, or research.

北欧(ほくおう)神話(しんわ)は映画(えいが)や小説(しょうせつ)の題材(だいざい)になることが多(おお)い。

Norse mythology is often used as subject matter for movies and novels.

戦争(せんそう)を題材(だいざい)にした映画(えいが)だ。

It's a movie with war as its subject matter.

日常生活(にちじょうせいかつ)を題材(だいざい)に絵(え)を描(か)く。

I paint using everyday life as my subject matter.

題材(だいざい) refers to the subject matter or raw material that a creative work is based on — the "what" that inspires a novel, film, painting, or other artistic work.

Common patterns

〜を題材(だいざい)にする: to use ~ as subject matter
〜を題材(だいざい)にした映画(えいが): a movie based on/about ~
題材(だいざい)を探(さが)す: to look for subject matter
題材(だいざい)を取(と)り上(あ)げる: to take up a subject
題材(だいざい)に困(こま)る: to struggle to find subject matter

Similar words

テーマ: theme (the central message or idea; loanword from German)
素材(そざい): material (raw material; can overlap in creative contexts)
主題(しゅだい): main theme (more specific, the central topic)
話題(わだい): topic (of conversation or discussion, not creative works)

題材(だいざい) emphasizes the source material or inspiration, while テーマ emphasizes the message or thesis the work conveys.

Related Words

Synonym: 素材(そざい) (raw material)

Synonym: 主題(しゅだい) (main theme)

Compare: 話題(わだい) (topic of conversation)

Compare: テーマ (theme (the central message or idea)

Compare: モチーフ (motif, theme, inspiration)

Compare: 画題(がだい) (subject of a painting)

general

Added 2026.2.5 17:37 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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