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.

general
Added 2026.2.5 17:37 · Revised 2026.3.26 17:50
10000/10140_daizai