Definition
题材 (tícái) refers to the subject matter or material of a creative work — what a story, painting, or film is about at a broad level. It is distinct from 话题 (huàtí 'topic of conversation') and 议题 (yìtí 'agenda item for discussion'), and from 题目 (tímù 'title or exam question'). 主题 (zhǔtí) is closer but emphasizes the central idea, while 题材 is the general area or raw material chosen.
noun
subject mattertheme (of a literary or artistic work)
Easily confused
- 体裁tǐ cáisound-alikegenre
Examples
- 题材。Zhè wèi zuòjiā zuì xǐhuan xiě àiqíng tí cái.This writer loves most to write about romantic subject matter.
- 题材，。Nà bù xiǎoshuō de tí cái fēicháng shēnkè, zhídé yì dú.The subject matter of that novel is very profound and worth reading.
- 题材。Zhè wèi huàjiā de tí cái dàduō láizì dàzìrán.Most of this painter's subject matter comes from nature.
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