大意
taii
The Japanese word for synopsis is 大意 (taii). Wiktionary also lists 梗概 (kōgai) and 概要 (gaiyō).
Meaning: brief summary (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 大意 | taii | |
| 梗概 | kōgai | [ko̞ːɡa̠i] (narrow) |
| 概要 | gaiyō | [ɡa̠ijo̞ː] (narrow) |
The word 大意 is often used when someone wants to know the 'gist' or the main point of a long speech or a complex explanation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 大意 is composed of 大 (big/main) and 意 (meaning/intent).
Which one should you use?
While all three words mean synopsis, 概要 (gaiyō) is the most common term used for a general overview or outline of a project, plan or document. 梗概 (kōgai) is specifically used when referring to the synopsis or plot summary of a literary work, play or story.
How do you pronounce it?
taii
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the term 梗概 (kōgai) uses the character 梗, which can also refer to the 'stalk' of a plant. This evokes the idea of stripping away the leaves and petals to reveal the central, structural stem of a story.
- While English speakers use 'synopsis' for almost any summary, using 梗概 (kōgai) in a business meeting for a project overview would sound strangely dramatic, as it is traditionally reserved for the plots of literature and theatrical plays.
- The word 意 in 大意 is the same character used in the word 'intention' or 'will' in Japanese. This implies that a synopsis is not just a summary of words, but a summary of the underlying intent or core spirit of a message.
Examples in context
- 弊社の新製品についての概要をご紹介いたします。We will now introduce a synopsis of our company's new product.
- 昨日、友達と映画のあらすじを話しました。Yesterday, I talked about the movie's synopsis with my friend.
- 彼女が物語を要約したので、読む時間が節約できました。She summarized the story, so it saved me reading time.
- 話の大意を教えてください。Hanashi no taii o oshiete kudasai.Please tell me the brief summary of the story.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a book for a class assignment.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、この本の正解が分からないよ。Himari, kono hon no seikai ga wakaranai yo.Himari, I don't understand the point of this book.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔に大意だけ説明してあげるね。Hiroto ni taii dake setsumei shite ageru ne.I'll explain just the synopsis to you, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう、助かるよ。arigatou, tasukaru yo.Thanks, that helps a lot.
- 陽葵 Himariいいよ、簡単だからすぐに分かるよ。ii yo, kantan dakara sugu ni wakaru yo.No problem, it's simple so you'll understand quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “synopsis” translations and entries 大意, 梗概, 概要, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
