たくらむ

た

く

ら

む

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

たくらむ · godan verb (-mu)

Meanings

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Implies a secret, often underhanded plan. Used for plotting something bad, a trick, or a conspiracy. The object is marked with を.

悪あく事じを企たくらむto plot some wrongdoing
彼かれらは何なにか悪あく事じを企たくらんでいるようだ。
It seems they're plotting some kind of mischief.
〈人ひと〉の暗あん殺さつを企たくらむto plot someone's assassination
反はん乱らん軍ぐんは大だい統とう領りょうの暗あん殺さつを企たくらんでいた。
The rebels were plotting to assassinate the president.
逃とう亡ぼうを企たくらむto plot an escape
囚しゅう人じんたちは脱だつ獄ごくと逃とう亡ぼうを企たくらんでいた。
The prisoners were plotting a jailbreak and escape.
反はん乱らんを企たくらむto plot a rebellion
一いち部ぶの兵へい士したちが反はん乱らんを企たくらんでいたことが判はん明めいした。
It came to light that some soldiers had been plotting a rebellion.

企くわだてるN1
企む always implies a secret or underhanded scheme, while 企てる is more formal and can describe a plan that is bad or merely bold, not necessarily secretive.
図はかるN1
謀る stresses deceiving or tricking someone as part of the plot, whereas 企む focuses on the secretive plotting itself.
画かく策さく
画策する describes actively maneuvering behind the scenes (often for personal advantage), while 企む is broader and can describe any secret bad plan, active or not.
計けい画かくN4
計画する is a neutral word for making a plan of any kind, while 企む specifically implies the plan is secret and usually malicious.
目論もくろむN1
企む and 目論む both mean to scheme or plot, but 企む leans more toward secretive or malicious schemes while 目論む can also describe a calculated personal ambition.

たくらむUsage40%
Kana spelling is the most common and recommended form for learners.
企たくらむUsage60%
Kanji form; usually written in kana.

The origin is uncertain. The kanji 企 means 'to plan' or 'to undertake', and the reading たくらむ is a native Japanese verb.