also: おぜんだて
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
setting the table; laying the table
Literal act of arranging dishes and utensils on a table before a meal.
夕食の前に、母が膳立てをしてくれた。
Before dinner, my mother set the table for us.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
Idiomatic use, often with the honorific prefix お. Refers to preparing things in advance so that a plan or event proceeds smoothly, sometimes with a nuance of behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
See also: お膳立て
彼は会議がうまくいくように、事前にお膳立てをした。
He made arrangements in advance so that the meeting would go smoothly.
成功のためには、周到なお膳立てが必要だ。
For success, careful preparation is necessary.