あらすじ・粗筋・荒筋arasuji[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounoutline; summary; argument

• Synonym大筋おおすじNeutralThe rough thread of a matter — its main direction rather than the whole story, as in 「大筋で合意」.
• Synonym概要がいようWrittenAn overview of the content, as in 「事業の概要」; more formal in tone than 「粗筋」 and not tied to stories.
• Synonym要約ようやくNeutralA concise summary made by distilling the key points, or the text that results; not limited to stories.
• Synonym概略がいりゃくWrittenA rough outline or general state of things; leans toward written prose.
• Synonym筋書きすじがきNeutralA plot synopsis of a play or story, or a script; also a course of events arranged in advance, as when things go according to plan.
• SynonymアウトラインNeutralLoanword for a contour or outline; mostly the broad outline of plans and proposals rather than a story.
• SynonymサマリーNeutralLoanword for a summary; typical of business reports.
• Synonym梗概こうがいWrittenWritten word for the outline of a novel or paper; an academic flavour.
• SynonymあらましNeutralA general account or outline, not limited to stories; also an adverb meaning roughly. Less common than 「粗筋」.
• Related輪郭りんかくNeutralThe outer contour of a thing; figuratively the rough shape of a plan, as in 「計画の輪郭」.
• Related要旨ようしWrittenThe gist or key points of a text or speech — the core message, not a full outline.
• Related要綱ようこうWrittenA set of guidelines or an official outline, as in 「募集要綱」; found in administrative documents.
• Related綱領こうりょうWrittenThe platform or programme of a party or organization, stating its basic principles.
• RelatedだいたいNeutralMostly an adverb, roughly or on the whole; as a noun it can mean an outline. Very common in speech.
• Related総論そうろんWrittenThe general remarks section of a work, opposed to the item-by-item treatment (各論); academic prose.
• Related骨組みほねぐみNeutralA frame or skeleton; figuratively the bare framework of a plan.
• Related概論がいろんWrittenAn introductory survey of a field, as in 「経済学概論」; a course or text, not a story outline.
• Related概説がいせつWrittenA general explanation that covers the essentials of a subject; written prose.
• Related概観がいかんWrittenA broad overall view of something; written prose.
• RelatedおおむねNeutralAdverb meaning on the whole, as in 「概ね良好」; can also point to the gist.
• Related大意たいいNeutralThe gist of a text, as in 「大意をつかむ」; centres on the meaning rather than the storyline.
• Related大要たいようWrittenWritten word for the essentials or outline of something; formal.
• Related摘要てきようWrittenA summary of key extracts; also the remarks column of an account book. Official-document flavour.
• Related提要ていようWrittenWritten word for a compendium or digest; often appears in book titles.
• Antonym細目さいもくWrittenItemized particulars, fixed down to the fine points — the opposite of a broad outline like 「粗筋」.
• Antonym詳細しょうさいNeutralThe details or full particulars — the opposite of a rough outline.

For a plot synopsis of a novel or film, 「粗筋」 is the default. Use 「概要」 for an overview of content, 「要約」 for a condensed summary, 「要旨」 for the core point, and 「筋書き」 for a plot outline or a scripted course of events. For plans try 「アウトライン」; for details, 「詳細」.

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

1. 物語ものがたりや計画けいかくなどの大体だいたいの筋道すじみち。