Translation guide
Preparatory or foundational work, often tedious, done before the main task. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific nouns and verbs related to groundwork, preparation, and legwork.
The essential, often unglamorous, work done at the beginning of a project to ensure its success.
The most direct and common equivalent. Refers to preliminary arrangements or groundwork.
プロジェクトの成功は徹底的な下準備にかかっている。
The success of the project depends on thorough spade work.
Literally 'ground leveling', used metaphorically for laying the groundwork, especially in negotiations or new ventures.
新市場への参入には入念な地ならしが必要だ。
Entering a new market requires careful spade work.
Specifically refers to the informal, behind-the-scenes consensus-building done before a formal decision or meeting. A key concept in Japanese business culture.
会議の前に根回しをしておいたほうがいい。
You should do some spade work before the meeting.
A more literal and descriptive phrase meaning 'preparatory work beforehand'. Suitable for formal or written contexts.
この研究には膨大な事前の準備作業が必要だった。
This research required an enormous amount of spade work.
The repetitive, time-consuming tasks of gathering information, making calls, or doing physical groundwork.
Emphasizes the steady, unglamorous nature of the work. '地道' means steady and painstaking.
地道な作業の積み重ねが大きな成果を生む。
The accumulation of spade work produces great results.
Literally 'earn with your feet', meaning to gather information or make sales by physically going out and doing legwork.
営業は足で稼ぐ仕事だ。
Sales is a job that requires spade work.
Literally 'mud-smelling work', a colloquial term for gritty, hands-on, unglamorous groundwork.
成功の裏には泥臭い仕事がある。
Behind success lies spade work.
下準備 is general preparatory work for any project. 根回し is specifically the informal consensus-building and lobbying done before a formal meeting in Japanese organizations. Use 根回し only in business or organizational contexts.
プレゼンの下準備は完璧だ。
The spade work for the presentation is perfect.
企画を通すために根回しをした。
I did spade work to get the proposal approved.
Do not translate 'spade work' literally as 鋤仕事 (suki shigoto). This would refer to actual digging with a spade and is not used metaphorically.