preparatory work; spadework; preliminaries
Refers to the foundational or behind-the-scenes work done before a main task or negotiation. Often used in political, business, or project contexts.
Before entering negotiations, preparatory work is important.
He put effort into the spadework for the election.
準備 is general preparation, while 予備工作 emphasizes the preliminary, often strategic or behind-the-scenes work leading up to a main event.
Compound of 予備 (yobi, 'preparatory, reserve') and 工作 (kōsaku, 'work, operations'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is used in modern Japanese for preliminary or spadework activities.