Translation guide
The English word 'theme' covers several related ideas: a central topic, a recurring motif, a musical melody, and a setting or style. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
会議のテーマは何ですか？
What is the theme of the meeting?
パーティーのテーマはハワイアンです。
The theme of the party is Hawaiian.
The main idea or subject of a discussion, essay, event, or work.
The most common and versatile loanword for 'theme' in the sense of a topic or subject. Used in everyday conversation, academic contexts, and events.
今日の会議のテーマは何ですか？
What is the theme of today's meeting?
この小説のテーマは愛と喪失です。
The theme of this novel is love and loss.
A more formal or literary term for 'theme' or 'subject'. Often used in academic writing, art criticism, or music.
論文の主題を明確に述べてください。
Please state the theme of your thesis clearly.
Refers to the subject matter or material used for a creative work. More concrete than テーマ or 主題.
この絵の題材は田園風景です。
The subject matter of this painting is a rural landscape.
A repeated idea, image, or pattern in a work of art, literature, or music.
Loanword from French 'motif'. Used for recurring elements in art, literature, music, and design.
この作曲家は自然をモチーフにした曲を多く作った。
This composer wrote many pieces with nature as a motif.
その映画では水のイメージが繰り返しモチーフとして現れる。
In that movie, water imagery appears repeatedly as a motif.
Can also mean 'motif' in music, especially the main theme of a piece.
A recognizable melody that forms the basis of a musical composition.
Specifically a 'theme song' or 'theme music', like for a TV show or movie.
このドラマのテーマ曲が好きです。
I like the theme song of this drama.
Theme song, especially a vocal song used as the main theme for a show or film.
映画の主題歌を有名な歌手が歌っている。
A famous singer performs the movie's theme song.
Short for テーマ曲 or テーマ音楽. Used in contexts like 'main theme'.
The unifying idea or style that determines the look and feel of an event, room, or product.
Used for the concept or style of an event, party, or design. Often combined with other words like パーティー (party) or カラー (color).
結婚式のテーマは「森の妖精」です。
The wedding theme is 'forest fairies'.
このレストランは海をテーマにした内装だ。
This restaurant has an ocean-themed interior.
Loanword 'concept'. Often used interchangeably with テーマ for the underlying idea of a design or event, but can sound more business-like.
テーマ is the most common and versatile word for 'theme' in everyday Japanese. 主題 is more formal and often used in academic or artistic analysis. 題材 refers to the concrete subject matter or material, not the abstract idea.
In English, 'theme' can sometimes mean a short essay. In Japanese, テーマ does not mean an essay. Use 作文 (さくぶん) or 小論文 (しょうろんぶん) instead.
The first theme of this symphony is impressive.
The main theme of this game is magnificent.
新商品のコンセプトは「シンプル＆エコ」です。
The concept for the new product is 'simple & eco'.