筋書き・筋書|すじがきsujigaki[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounsynopsis; outline; plot
   筋書すじがきは別べつとして、その本ほんは私をひきつけた。↗

   Apart from the plot, the book interested me.

• SynonymあらすじNeutralThe everyday word for the broad outline of a story, or of a plan; it lacks 「筋書き」's nuance of events arranged in advance, as in 「筋書き通りに進む」.
• Synonym大筋おおすじNeutralRefers to the broad lines of something, stressing its main direction, as in 「大筋で合意」. Broader than a story's 「筋書き」.
• SynonymアウトラインNeutralLoanword for an outline, stressing the framework or structure, as in 「計画のアウトライン」; it gives the frame of a thing, not a plot or a course of events set in advance.
• Synonym梗概こうがいWrittenWritten/formal prose. A summary of a literary work's content; lacks 「筋書き」's sense of a prearranged plan.
• SynonymあらましNeutralCovers the general course of events rather than a plot or plan; also used adverbially to mean roughly or about.
• SynonymシノプシスNeutralLoanword for a synopsis of a novel, script or other work; mostly heard in writing and publishing circles.
• SynonymプロットNeutralLoanword for the plot structure of a novel or play, stressing the storyline; a term from creative writing, not for plans.
• Synonym筋立てすじだてNeutralRefers to how a story is constructed and unfolds, rather than the plot as written down like 「筋書き」.
• Related輪郭りんかくNeutralMeans contour or silhouette, as in 「顔の輪郭」, or the rough shape of a matter; not a plot or plan.
• Related要旨ようしWrittenWritten/formal prose. The gist or key points of what is said or written, typically a paper or speech; the focus is the core message, not how events unfold.
• Related要綱ようこうWrittenWritten/formal prose. The points of an official plan or scheme, as in 「募集要綱」; no story sense.
• Related概要がいようNeutralNeutral and formal, very widely used for an overview of anything, as in 「事業概要」; it can sum up a story too, but lacks 「筋書き」's sense of a prearranged plan.
• Related要約ようやくNeutralA summary made by condensing a long text, as in 「文章を要約する」; stresses the act of shortening.
• Related概論がいろんWrittenWritten/formal prose. A general introduction to a field of study, as in 「法学概論」; a looser synonym with no plot or plan sense.
• Related概略がいりゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. A rough account of the content of something, be it a story, a plan or any other matter; the focus is on brevity, not on how events unfold.
• Related概説がいせつWrittenWritten/formal prose. A general explanatory overview of a subject; no plot or plan sense.
• RelatedレジュメNeutralLoanword for a summary handed out with a talk or lecture, such as a report outline or lecture notes.

Use 「筋書き」 for a story plot or a prearranged plan, as in 「筋書き通りに進む」. For a story summary say 「粗筋」, for plot structure 「プロット」, and for general overviews 「概要」 or 「要約」. The other words cover specialized senses: outlines, gists, contours and academic introductions.

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

1. 事物じぶつの筋道すじみちを書き記かきしるしたもの。
2. 小説しょうせつや演劇えんげきなどのあらすじを書き記かきしるしたもの。
3. 計画けいかく。目論見もくろみ。