Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
主题 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
主题zhǔtíthemeHSK 5, n, rank #2520, Medium
主题zhǔtísubjectHSK 5, n, rank #2520, Medium
zhǔtí(zhu3ti2) T3
  1. 1theme
  2. 2subject
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
主题(主題)zhǔtí(zhu3ti2)

主题 (zhǔtí) refers to the main theme or subject of a discussion, piece of writing, or artistic work. It is commonly used in contexts such as literature, presentations, and academic discussions to denote the central idea that ties various elements together.

Frequency#2520DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

The concept of a 'theme' is vital in Chinese literature and art, where the theme often reflects moral or philosophical messages, aligning with traditional values and teachings.

Memory Tip

Think of 主题 as '主' (zhǔ) meaning 'master' or 'main' and '题' (tí) meaning 'topic'. Imagine a master artist painting a large canvas where the theme is the main focus, representing the essence of the work.

Meanings of 主题

zhǔtí(zhu3ti2)
1theme
2subject
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 主题

主题Simplified
主題Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2520Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 主题

JasonAmy

Podcast: 主题

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 主题

Quick Contrast

主题 (zhǔtí) vs 议题 (yìtí): use 主题 when referring to the overarching theme of a work, while 议题 focuses on specific topics for discussion or debate.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 主题 as '主' (zhǔ) meaning 'master' or 'main' and '题' (tí) meaning 'topic'. Imagine a master artist painting a large canvas where the theme is the main focus, representing the essence of the work.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 主题 with 题目 (tímù), which means 'title' or 'topic'. 主题 is more about the underlying idea, while 题目 refers to the name or label of something. It's typically used in formal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 主题 connects with other vocabulary related to discussion and analysis. Students should focus on using it in sentences discussing books, movies, or academic articles to enhance understanding.

Cultural Note

The concept of a 'theme' is vital in Chinese literature and art, where the theme often reflects moral or philosophical messages, aligning with traditional values and teachings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 主题 with 题目 in sentences. For example, saying '这本书的题目是友情' (This book's topic is friendship) is incorrect; the correct term is 主题.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 主题

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 主题 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

zhǔowner
HSK 75 strokes
View full entry
topic
HSK 215 strokes
View full entry

Write 主题

Practice writing 主题 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 主题

主题 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

首先,谢谢大家来参加这个会议;其次,我想介绍一下今天的____。

First, thank you all for attending this meeting; second, I'd like to introduce today's topic.

Example Sentences for 主题 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
马赫福兹先生讲述的故事过于宏大,主题有些混乱了。

mǎ hè fú zī xiān shēng jiǎng shù de gù shì guò yú hóng dà, , zhǔ tí yǒu xiē hùn luàn。

The themes get tangled in Mr. Mahfouz's epic storytelling.
2
这篇课文把相当复杂的主题讲述得深入浅出、通俗易懂。

zhè piān kè wén bǎ xiāng dāng fù zá de zhǔ tí jiǎng shù dé shēn rù qiǎn chū、 、 tōng sú yì。

The text is approachable, coping well with quite complicated subjects.
3
新近发生的事情使得他的中心主题显得更加有的放矢。

xīn jìn fā shēng de shì qíng shǐ dé tā de zhōng xīn zhǔ tí xiǎn dé gēng jiā yǒu de fàng shǐ。

Recent events have made his central theme even more apposite.
4
今天他得以将主题全部集中在经济方面。

jīn tiān tā dé yǐ jiāng zhǔ tí quán bù jí zhōng zài jīng jì fāng miàn。

Today he was able to focus his message exclusively on the economy.
5
埃及有条件地同意了一项峰会主题。

āi jí yǒu tiáo jiàn dì tóng yì le yī xiàng fēng huì zhǔ tí。

Egypt had agreed to a summit subject to certain conditions.
6
沃勒斯坦的作品可以细分成3个主要的主题。

wò lè sī tǎn de zuò pǐn kě yǐ xì fēn chéng3 3 gè zhǔ yào de zhǔ。

Wallerstein's work can be separated into three main component themes.
7
讨论围绕4个主题展开。

tǎo lùn wéi rào4 4 gè zhǔ tí zhǎn。

The discussion centered around four subjects.
8
色彩鲜明的主题才会产生这种效果。

sè cǎi xiān míng de zhǔ tí cái huì chǎn shēng zhè zhǒng xiào guǒ。

The effect only works well with strongly coloured subjects.
9
这部戏在对待这一主题上有些理想化,甚至是天真。

zhè bù xì zài duì dài zhè yī zhǔ tí shàng yǒu xiē lǐ xiǎng huà, , shèn zhì shì tiān。

The drama takes an idealistic, even a naive view of the subject.
10
她围绕这个主题添枝加叶地说了大约10分钟。

tā wéi rào zhè gè zhǔ tí tiān zhī jiā yè dì shuō le dà yuē10 10 fēn。

She embroidered on this theme for about ten minutes.

Cultural Notes for 主题

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of a 'theme' is vital in Chinese literature and art, where the theme often reflects moral or philosophical messages, aligning with traditional values and teachings.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western literature, themes are often explored more abstractly, whereas in Chinese literature, themes are frequently tied to Confucian values and social harmony.

Frequently Asked Questions about 主题

You can say, '这本书的主题是友情' (The theme of this book is friendship).