The Chinese word **题材 (tícái)**, meaning "subject matter" or "theme (of a work)," is a compound noun formed through the combination of two meaningful characters: **题 (tí)**, which originally means "topic," "subject," or "title," and **材 (cái)**, which means "material," "stuff," or "timber." In this semantic compound, **题** provides the conceptual focus (the "what" of discussion or creation), while **材** contributes the notion of the substance or raw content used. Together, they metaphorically convey the idea of "thematic material"—the specific subject, along with its associated events and elements, that serves as the foundational content for artistic or literary creation, such as in a novel, film, or painting.