Overview
The word 题目 (tímù) primarily means "question" or "problem" in the context of exams or tests, but it can also mean "title" or "subject" of a book, article, or discussion.
Usage in Exams
When used in educational contexts, 题目 refers to the specific questions or problems students need to solve. It is common in phrases like 数学题目 (math problems) or 考试题目 (exam questions).
Usage as Title
题目 can also mean the title of a work, such as a book or article. In this sense, it refers to the name or heading that summarizes the content.
Common Collocations
- 题目难度 (difficulty of the question): describes how hard a question is.
- 题目要求 (question requirements): what the question asks for.
- 题目设置 (question setting): how questions are arranged or designed.
Tips
Be careful not to confuse 题目 with 主题 (zhǔtí), which means "theme" or "main topic." 题目 is more concrete, referring to specific questions or titles, while 主题 is more abstract, referring to the overall theme or subject matter.
When speaking about exams, 题目 always refers to the individual questions, not the whole exam paper.