成分 and 要素: material components, story elements and a growth factor
Distinguish ingredients and components checked or analyzed from elements contributing to a story and temperature as a factor in plant growth.
Ingredients and water components with 成分
「食品の成分を包装の表示で確認した。」 (I checked the food's ingredients on the package label.) 成分 (せいぶん) means component or ingredient. The speaker checked the food's ingredients on the package label. That action does not establish nutritional benefits or prove the food's safety.
「研究室で水に含まれる成分を分析した。」 (We analyzed the components in the water at the laboratory.) The components in the water were analyzed at the laboratory. 水に含まれる identifies their relation to the water. No particular component or analysis result is supplied.
Story elements and a growth factor with 要素
「物語を面白くする要素を三つ挙げた。」 (I named three elements that make a story interesting.) 要素 (ようそ) means element or factor. The speaker named three elements that make a story interesting. 三つ counts the elements named, without limiting every possible contributor to exactly three.
「温度は植物の成長を左右する重要な要素だ。」 (Temperature is an important factor in plant growth.) Temperature is an important factor in plant growth. 重要な要素 identifies its importance without making it the sole factor affecting growth.
Read material composition and broader contributions
The 成分 examples concern what food and water contain. The 要素 examples concern contributions to a story's interest and a factor affecting plant growth. Read the object together with the role played by its component or factor.
Checking a label and analyzing water are the stated actions. Three is the number of story elements named; temperature is identified as important to growth. Preserve those distinct actions, counts and contributions.
What do checking a food's 成分 and describing temperature as an important 要素 concern?
Show the answer and why
The first concerns checking the food's ingredients on its package. The second concerns temperature as an important factor in plant growth. Neither proof of nutritional benefit or safety nor temperature as the sole growth factor is supplied.