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あらすじ Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun
outline ; summary ; plot synopsis ; argument
usually written using kana alone
A brief account of the main points or storyline. Very common for books, films, dramas, and manga, and also usable for the outline of an article, presentation, or line of argument.
Before the presentation, I will first briefly introduce the outline.
Written forms あらすじ Usage 87%
It is usually written in kana; this is the safest everyday spelling.
粗あら 筋すじ Usage 7%
Attested kanji spelling and the main kanji form, but kana is commonly preferred in ordinary writing.
荒あら 筋すじ Usage 3%
rarely-used kanji form
It is a rarely used kanji form.
あら 筋すじ Usage 2%
search-only kanji form
This mixed kana-kanji spelling is search-only; it is not recommended as a normal spelling.
Similar words 要よう 約やく A condensed summary of content; often a little more formal or academic than あらすじ, and used both for the act of summarizing and the resulting summary.
概がい 要よう An overview or general outline, often used for projects, systems, companies, or events; less specifically tied to a story plot than あらすじ.
筋すじ 書が き A plot or scenario, especially the planned sequence of events; あらすじ is the short summary of that plot.
Etymology The spelling 粗筋 transparently links 粗, 'rough' or 'coarse,' with 筋, 'line, thread, plot, course,' suggesting a 'rough line' or outline of events. The exact historical derivation is not asserted here; kana あらすじ is the usual modern spelling.
