伏ふく線せん

noun

foreshadowing; planting a clue

Used in storytelling, films, and novels for hints or clues laid early that pay off later. Often appears as 伏線を張る (lay foreshadowing) or 伏線を回収する (resolve foreshadowing).

• この小しょう説せつには巧こう妙みょうな伏ふく線せんがいくつも張はられている。

  This novel has many cleverly laid foreshadowings.

• 最さい終しゅう回かいで、それまでの伏ふく線せんがすべて回かい収しゅうされた。

  In the final episode, all the foreshadowing up to that point was resolved.

noun

preparation; precautionary measure

Extended figurative use: laying groundwork or taking precautions for a future event, similar to 'setting the stage' or 'covering one's bases'. Less common than the storytelling sense.

• 交こう渉しょうを有ゆう利りに進すすめるために、事じ前ぜんにいくつか伏ふく線せんを張はっておいた。

  I laid some groundwork in advance to move the negotiations in my favor.