Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
题títopic
是to be · shìSound part
页page · xiéMeaning part
页 hints at the meaning (page); 是 (shì) hints at the sound. Compare it with tí.
Memory aidHead 页 with 是 (shì) for the sound. It first meant the forehead, and so a title or topic.
材cáimaterial
木tree · mùMeaning part
才ability · cáiSound part
木 hints at the meaning (tree); 才 (cái) hints at the sound. Compare it with cái.
How to write 题材
题 15 strokes · 材 7 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 题材 (tícái). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
题材 (tícái) means “subject matter” or “theme”. It is an HSK 6 word.
Say it tícái: tí with a 2nd tone, then cái with a 2nd tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 题材 is written 題材. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type ticai with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 题材 from the suggestions. Typing ticai into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
题材 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences written by WillyChina. Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
题tí2nd tone, rising
