仕組む|しくむshikumu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto devise; to arrange; to plan; to plot
   そのゲームでは初はじめから彼女かのじょに不利ふりになるように仕組しくまれていたことが後あとになってわかった。↗

   It turned out that the cards were stacked against her from the beginning of the game.

• Synonym画策かくさくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Scheming behind the scenes, usually with a negative tinge; more overtly conspiratorial than 「仕組む」.
• Synonym企てるくわだてるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Making a plan and trying to carry it out, often for something bad, as in 「謀反を企てる」; 「仕組む」 stresses laying a trap beforehand.
• SynonymたくらむWrittenWritten/formal prose. Scheming something bad, with a pejorative tinge of ill intent; more negative than 「仕組む」.
• Synonym図るはかるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Striving to bring something about or attain a goal, as in 「解決を図る」; no nuance of setting a trap.
• Synonym目論むもくろむWrittenWritten/formal prose. Having a plan or calculation in mind; it does not necessarily imply the arrangements are in place, which 「仕組む」 does.
• SynonymたばかるWrittenWritten/formal prose, archaic and rare. Focuses on deceiving people with tricks rather than arranging events in advance.
• SynonymたくむWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare. Devising with ingenuity and careful effort, stressing the craft of the design itself.
• Synonym策するさくするFormalFormal and rare. Working out stratagems or plots; stiffer than 「仕組む」.
• Related企図きとFormalFormal written prose. A noun for the intention or plan itself, without implying concrete arrangements.
• Related策謀さくぼうFormalFormal written prose. A noun for schemes and intrigue — power plays and trickery.
• Related工作こうさくNeutralNeutral. Handicrafts or construction, but also behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and lobbying; stresses backstage operations.
• Related狙うねらうNeutralNeutral. Aiming at a target or watching for a chance to get it; about waiting for an opening, not laying plans in advance.
• Related下ごしらえしたごしらえNeutralNeutral. Preparatory groundwork done in advance, also pre-preparing cooking ingredients; no hint of a trap.
• Antonym偶然ぐうぜんNeutralAntonym. Coincidence or chance — the very opposite of something deliberately arranged, as 「仕組む」 describes.
• Antonym自然しぜんNeutralAntonym. Happening naturally or spontaneously, without human design — contrasted with the artificial setup of 「仕組む」.

Use 「仕組む」 for arranging things in advance so they unfold as you intend, often with a hint of a trap, as in 「仕組まれた事故」. To plot something bad, use 「企む」; to plan and attempt something, 「企てる」; for behind-the-scenes scheming, 「画策」. 「工作」 is backstage manoeuvring, 「狙う」 is watching for a chance, 「図る」 is striving for a goal; 「偶然」 and 「自然」 are the opposites — what happens without design.

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

1. 組み立くみたてる。
2. 企くわだてる。
3. 小説しょうせつや戯曲ぎきょくの筋立すじだてを考かんがえる。