noun
wicked plot; vicious scheme
Refers to a cunning, malicious plan or conspiracy, often in political or historical contexts. Somewhat literary.
彼の奸謀によって国は混乱に陥った。
The country fell into chaos due to his wicked plot.
歴史書には数々の奸謀が記されている。
Numerous vicious schemes are recorded in the history books.
Compound of 奸 (kan, 'wickedness, cunning') and 謀 (bō, 'plot, scheme'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common Sino-Japanese pattern for abstract nouns.