How to say "outline" in Japanese

• 概要がいようCommon
  nounThe default choice for 'outline' in the sense of a summary or overview of a document, plan, or report. It covers the general content without detail, as in giving someone the outline of a proposal.
  ここまでで、この時期じきの政治せいじ不安ふあん増大ぞうだいに関かんする概要がいようを述のべてきた。↗

  Up to this point I have presented an overview of the growth of political unrest in the period.
• あらすじJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounUsed for the outline or summary of a story, novel, film, or play — the plot as such. If your 'outline' means what happens in a narrative, this is the word; it is usually written in kana alone.
• 輪郭りんかくCommon
  nounThis is the physical sense of 'outline': the contour, silhouette, or line marking the outer edge of a shape or figure. It is not the word for a summary of a text or talk.
  彼かれはその機械きかいの輪郭りんかくをスケッチします。↗

  He sketches the outline of the machine.
• 概略がいりゃくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, adverbAn outline in the sense of a brief sketch of the main points, often of a plan, report, or explanation. Close to 概要 but with a stronger feeling of brevity; the gloss 'in brief' reflects this.
  彼かれに計画けいかくの概略がいりゃくを述のべてもらおう。↗

  Ask him to sketch out his plan.
• 大筋おおすじJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe outline as the basic points or gist of a matter — what something comes down to overall. Suits talk of grasping or agreeing on the outline of a plan or story rather than producing a written summary.
  その計画けいかくに大おおすじで賛成さんせいしていただけませんか。↗

  Would you agree to the plan in principle?

For a written or spoken summary use 概要, 「あらすじ」 for a story's plot, 概略 for a brief sketch of points, 大筋 for the basic gist, and 輪郭 only for a physical outline or silhouette.

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

• 概要がいようoutline
• あらすじoutline
• 輪郭りんかくcontour
• 概略がいりゃくoutline
• 大筋おおすじoutline
• 大系たいけいoutline
• 要覧ようらんoutline
• 筋書きすじがきsynopsis
• 概論がいろんintroduction
• 概観がいかんgeneral view
• 概説がいせつoverview
• 要領ようりょうpoint
• 要綱ようこうmain principle
• 要旨ようし(main) point
• アウトラインoutline
• あらましoutline
• 大略たいりゃくoutline
• 通論つうろんoutline (of)
• 梗概こうがいoutline
• 撮要さつようoutline
• 輪郭線りんかくせんoutline
• 略述りゃくじゅつoutline
• 略筆りゃくひつoutline
• 略説りゃくせつoutline
• 要図ようずoutline
• 要説ようせつoutline
• レジュメsummary
• 摘要てきようsummary
• 提要ていようsummary
• 綱要こうようelements
• 大要たいようsummary
• 汎論はんろんgeneral remarks
• 要略ようりゃくepitome
• 大意たいいsynopsis
• だいたいoutline
• 骨ほねoutline
• 骨組みほねぐみoutline
• 枠組みわくぐみframework (of a plan, system, etc.)
• 大概たいがいgist
• 横顔よこがお(personal) profile
• 大綱たいこうoutline
• 外郭がいかくoutline
• 素描そびょうoutline
• 略りゃくoutline
• 大綱おおづなfundamental principles
• 線せんoutline
• およそoutline
• おおよそoutline