Translation guide
The English word "scheme" covers several distinct meanings: a systematic plan, a clever or devious plot, an official project or system, and a diagram or outline. Japanese uses different words for each nuance.
A carefully arranged plan or system, often official or large-scale.
The most general word for a plan or scheme. Neutral and widely used.
新しい都市計画が発表された。
A new urban scheme was announced.
Refers to an institutional system or scheme, like a social security system.
年金制度の改革が必要だ。
Reform of the pension scheme is necessary.
Emphasizes the structure or mechanism of a scheme. Often used for business or technical systems.
この会社の研修制度はよくできた仕組みだ。
This company's training scheme is a well-designed system.
A proposal or draft plan. Often used in business contexts for a suggested scheme.
その案は役員会で否決された。
The scheme was rejected at the board meeting.
A secret, often dishonest plan to gain something, with a negative connotation.
A plot or scheme with a negative, sneaky nuance. Commonly used for conspiracies.
彼の企みを見抜いた。
I saw through his scheme.
A conspiracy or intrigue, often political or large-scale. Stronger than 企み.
A wicked scheme or trick. More colloquial and clearly negative.
A stratagem or trick, often used in competitive contexts like business or war. Can be neutral or negative.
A government or organizational initiative, often with a specific name.
A project, enterprise, or scheme, often public or corporate.
政府は新たな雇用事業を始めた。
The government launched a new employment scheme.
Used for official systems like tax schemes or scholarship schemes.
Loanword from English, used for organized programs or schemes, especially in IT or education.
A drawing or chart showing the arrangement of something.
A diagram, schema, or scheme. Used in technical or academic contexts.
この図式を見てください。
Please look at this scheme.
An outline or summary, often used for a scheme of work or plan.
Loanword used in business or IT for a conceptual scheme or framework.
English 'to scheme' (plot) is usually translated with verb phrases like 企む (たくらむ) or 策略を巡らす (さくりゃくをめぐらす), not a single noun. The noun forms above are for the noun 'scheme'.
彼は何か企んでいる。
He is scheming something.
それは大規模な陰謀だった。
It was a large-scale scheme.
彼らは悪巧みを企てている。
They are hatching a scheme.
それは巧妙な策略だった。
It was a clever scheme.
I used the scholarship scheme.
新しい研修プログラムが始まる。
A new training scheme will start.
計画の概要を説明します。
I will explain the scheme of the plan.
このスキームに従って進めてください。
Please proceed according to this scheme.