How to say "screenplay" in Japanese

• シナリオJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA katakana loanword for the script of a film or television drama — the screenplay itself. In this sense it is largely interchangeable with 脚本.
  映画えいがのシナリオみたいですね。↗

  That's something like a movie scenario.
• 脚本きゃくほんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe kanji term for a script or screenplay, used for stage plays as well as film and television; it also covers 'scenario'. For a film's script it is used interchangeably with シナリオ.
  脚本きゃくほんを書かいていて、行き詰いきづまった時ときはどうする？↗

  What do you do when you get writer's block while writing a script?

For the screenplay of a film or television drama, 「シナリオ」 and 脚本 are largely interchangeable; 脚本, the kanji term, also covers stage plays and the sense 'scenario', while 「シナリオ」 is the katakana loanword.

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

• シナリオscript
• 脚本きゃくほんscript