Translation guide
The English word 'schedule' covers a range of concepts from a personal timetable to a formal program of events. In Japanese, different words and patterns are used depending on whether you're talking about a personal plan, a public timetable, a project timeline, or the act of scheduling something.
What's your schedule like?
I have a busy schedule.
Let me check my schedule.
Talking about your own daily or future plans, appointments, or availability.
What's your schedule like tomorrow? · I have a busy schedule today. · Let me check my schedule.
The most common and natural word for personal plans or schedule. It refers to what you have planned to do. Often used in phrases like 予定がある (I have plans) or 予定を入れる (to put something in one's schedule).
Do you have any plans tomorrow?
A loanword from English, commonly used for a schedule in the sense of a timetable or a planned sequence of activities. It can sound slightly more businesslike or structured than 予定.
Refers to one's convenience or availability. Often used when asking if a time works for someone or stating that you are free/busy.
Referring to a published or fixed timetable, such as for trains, classes, or TV programs.
The train schedule is posted on the wall. · My class schedule is really tough this semester. · The conference schedule is online.
A schedule for a project, work, or long-term plan, often with milestones.
We need to create a project schedule. · The schedule is tight, but we can manage. · Please send me the schedule for the event.
The action of arranging or planning something for a certain time.
I need to schedule a meeting. · Can we schedule the call for Friday? · The event is scheduled for June.
To plan or schedule something. Often used in the form 〜を予定している.
Expressing whether something is progressing faster or slower than planned.
We're ahead of schedule. · The project is behind schedule. · Everything is on schedule.
Ahead of schedule (literally 'earlier than planned').
予定 is the most natural word for personal plans and is used in daily conversation. スケジュール is a loanword that often implies a more structured or formal timetable, like a business schedule or event program. In casual speech, 予定 is more common for asking about someone's availability.
Do you have plans tomorrow?
What are your plans for the weekend?
Let's check today's schedule.
My schedule is packed.
What day is convenient for you?
That day is not convenient for me.
Specifically a timetable for transportation (trains, buses, flights). It lists departure and arrival times.
Please check the train timetable.
A school class schedule or timetable. It shows which subjects are taught at which times.
I received the new semester's class schedule.
Also used for event schedules, conference programs, or any planned timeline.
I will distribute the conference schedule.
TV or radio program schedule.
I check the TV schedule and mark the programs I want to watch.
A schedule of dates for an event, trip, or project. It emphasizes the sequence of days and deadlines.
Let's decide the itinerary (schedule) for the trip.
The construction schedule is behind.
Commonly used in business contexts for project timelines.
To make a project schedule.
A detailed process chart or schedule used in manufacturing or construction.
Proceed with the work according to the process schedule.
We are scheduling the meeting for next week.
Literally 'to put in', used with 予定 or スケジュール to mean adding something to your schedule.
I scheduled a dentist appointment for tomorrow afternoon.
To put together or organize a schedule, often for a complex plan.
To plan/organize the trip schedule.
To set or configure a schedule, often used in technical or formal contexts.
Set the backup schedule in the system.
The construction is ahead of schedule.
Behind schedule (literally 'delayed compared to plan').
The project is behind schedule.
On schedule, as planned.
Everything is proceeding on schedule.
明日のスケジュールを教えてください。 (formal)
Please tell me tomorrow's schedule.
When asking if someone is free, using スケジュール can sound unnatural. Instead, use 予定 or 都合. For example, 'Are you free tomorrow?' is naturally 明日、空いていますか？ or 明日、予定ありますか？, not 明日、スケジュールは空いていますか？