How to say "plot" in Japanese

• 陰謀いんぼうCommon
  nounCovers a plot in the sense of a secret, usually sinister plan to harm or deceive, often involving several people. The nuance is serious and conspiratorial, as in a plot against the government.
  私は彼かれらの陰謀いんぼうをすぐに見抜みぬいた。↗

  I saw through their plot at once.
• 構想こうそうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers the plot of a story, novel, or film, and also a large-scale plan or conception. It refers to the overall outline or design, not a scheme, so it is the usual word for a work's plotline.
  彼女かのじょが建設的けんせつてきな構想こうそうを持もつ。↗

  She has constructive ideas.
• 敷地しきちJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers a plot of land, that is, a site, lot, or grounds on which something is or will be built. This is the only sense of 'plot' it covers; it has nothing to do with schemes or stories.
  その敷地しきちは軍事ぐんじ上じょうの目的もくてきで利用りようされている。↗

  The site is used for military purposes.
• 企みたくらみCommon
  nounCovers a plot or scheme in the sense of a design or trick someone is quietly working on. It is broader than 陰謀 and can suggest a somewhat smaller, more individual scheme, not necessarily a grand conspiracy.
  彼女かのじょはそのたくらみに加くわわったことを否定ひていした。↗

  She denied having taken part in the scheme.
• 謀議ぼうぎCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers a plot in the sense of conspirators conferring secretly together; it refers to the discussion or conference behind a conspiracy. It is also used in legal contexts and is rarely the everyday word for 'plot'.
  彼かれは絶対ぜったいにその謀議ぼうぎに加担かたんしていなかった。反はん政府せいふの悪わるだくみがあったのは、彼かれではなくて、その兄あにだった。↗

  He has had absolutely no part in the conspiracy; it was not he, but his brother, who had an axe to grind against the government.

Use 陰謀 or 「企み」 for a secret scheme (陰謀 graver, 「企み」 more general), 構想 for a story or design plan, 敷地 for a piece of land, and 謀議 for conspiratorial discussion.

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

• 陰謀いんぼうplot
• 構想こうそうplan
• 敷地しきちsite
• 企みたくらみplot
• 謀議ぼうぎplot
• 魂胆こんたんulterior motive
• 企てるくわだてるto plan
• 謀略ぼうりゃくscheme
• 筋書きすじがきsynopsis
• 事件じけんevent
• 区画くかくdivision
• 趣向しゅこうplan
• 仕組むしくむto devise
• 謀はかりごとplan
• 企てくわだてplan
• プロットplot (of a novel, play, etc.)
• 筋立てすじだてplot (of a story)
• 悪計あっけいplot
• 目論見もくろみplan
• たくむto devise
• 奸計かんけいevil design
• 謀計ぼうけいconspiracy
• 胸に一物むねにいちもつmachination
• 奸謀かんぼうwicked design
• 構思こうしplan
• 腹に一物はらにいちもつmachination
• 計略けいりゃくplan
• ストーリー性ストーリーせい(sense of) story
• ストーリーplot
• 図るはかるto plot
• 仕組みしくみplan
• 地面じめんland
• 匠たくみplot
• 巧みたくみplot
• コンセプトintention
• いちもつulterior motive
• ロットlot (land)
• 寝刃を合わすねたばをあわすto scheme
• 筋すじplot
• 筆ふで(land) lot
• あやdesign