How to say "topic" in Japanese

• 話題わだいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe go-to word for a topic of conversation or discussion — what people are talking about. Use it for conversation topics, a subject that comes up in chat, or something currently in the news.
  その話題わだいは話し合はなしあう価値かちがある。↗

  The topic is worth discussing.
• テーマJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers 'topic' as the theme or subject matter of a talk, essay, research, or event — the central idea to be addressed. It also simply means 'theme' or 'motif'.
  このテーマに関かんするほとんどの研究けんきゅうでは、立法府りっぽうふの介入かいにゅうが悪影響あくえいきょうをもたらしたということが示しめされている。↗

  It has been shown in most studies on this subject that intervention of the legislature had adverse effects.
• トピックCommon
  nounThe loanword and the closest one-to-one match for English 'topic'. Typical for a set item of discussion — the topic of a lesson, meeting, or news piece — rather than a diffuse subject of chatter.
  今日きょうのトピックは「北朝鮮きたちょうせんによる日本人にほんじん拉致らち問題もんだい」です。↗

  Today's topic is "the problem of Japanese people abducted by North Korea".
• 語り草かたりぐさCommon
  nounNot a neutral 'topic': it means a story retold again and again — the stuff of legend, on everyone's lips. For an ordinary topic of conversation, this is seldom the word you want.
  ビルはこの会社かいしゃでの語り草かたりぐさになっている。↗

  Bill is still a legendary figure in this company.
• 案件あんけんCommon
  nounCovers 'topic' only in the business sense: a matter to discuss, an item on the agenda, an issue or pending case. Think meetings and business discussion, not casual conversation.
  この案件あんけんをどう処理しょりするか、彼かれに下駄げたを預あずけるよ。↗

  I'm just going to leave it up to him to figure out how to clean up this mess.

For a subject of conversation use 話題; for the theme of a talk, essay, or work use 「テーマ」; for a discrete discussion item use 「トピック」; for business or agenda matters use 案件; 「語り草」 suits only oft-retold stories.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 話題わだいtopic
• テーマtheme
• トピックtopic
• 語り草かたりぐさstory
• 案件あんけんmatter (to discuss)
• 題だいtitle
• スレthread (on an Internet forum, mailing list, etc.)
• トピtopic (on an Internet forum, Q&A website, etc.)
• 話頭わとうtopic
• 話柄わへいtopic
• 主辞しゅじsubject
• スッドレthread (on an Internet forum, mailing list, etc.)
• 話はなしtopic
• 語りかたりtopic
• 素材そざいsubject matter
• 題目だいもくtopic
• スレッドthread (on an Internet forum, mailing list, etc.)
• 設題せつだいquestion
• 言い草いいぐさtopic (of conversation)