Translation guide
The English phrasal verb "lay out" has several distinct meanings. This guide organizes them by practical use, from arranging objects to explaining ideas, spending money, and preparing a dead body.
To place items in an organized, visible way, often on a surface.
General verb for arranging things in a line or order. Transitive.
テーブルに皿を並べた。
I laid out the plates on the table.
To spread something out flat, like a map or cloth. Transitive.
床に地図を広げた。
I laid out the map on the floor.
To lay something down to cover a surface, like a mat or sheet. Transitive.
ピクニックのために芝生にシートを敷いた。
We laid out a sheet on the grass for the picnic.
To describe a plan, argument, or information in a structured way.
The most common verb for explaining something. Use with adverbs like 詳しく (in detail) or わかりやすく (clearly).
新しい提案について詳しく説明してくれますか。
Could you lay out the new proposal in detail?
To state something clearly and explicitly. More formal than 説明する.
契約条件を明確に述べてください。
Please lay out the contract terms clearly.
To show or present information, often used in formal contexts like presentations or reports.
To spend a large amount of money, often on something significant.
Literally 'use a large amount of money'. Natural for 'lay out money'.
彼は新車に大金を使った。
He laid out a lot of money for a new car.
To spend money on something, emphasizing the expense. Often used with に for the purpose.
このプロジェクトに多額の費用をかけた。
We laid out a large sum on this project.
To plan the layout of a room, garden, or page.
To design or plan a layout, often for buildings or systems.
庭を設計するのに時間がかかった。
It took time to lay out the garden.
Loanword from English 'layout', used for page design, room arrangement, etc.
雑誌のページをレイアウトする。
I lay out the magazine pages.
To wash and dress a corpse for a funeral.
To lay out a body respectfully. 安置 means to place a body in a resting position.
遺体を安置する部屋を準備した。
We prepared a room to lay out the body.
To place a body in a coffin, part of the laying-out process. Formal term.
家族が集まって納棺した。
The family gathered and laid out the body in the coffin.
To hit someone so hard they fall down or lose consciousness.
To punch someone to the ground. Casual/violent.
彼は相手を一発で殴り倒した。
He laid out his opponent with one punch.
To cause someone to lose consciousness. More general than punching.
その衝撃で彼は気絶させられた。
The impact laid him out cold.
The English phrasal verb 'lay out' does not have a single Japanese equivalent. Always choose the verb that matches the specific meaning you intend. Using 置く (to put) for 'lay out ideas' will sound unnatural.
I laid out the data using graphs.