What does “keikaku” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “keikaku” often to mean ‘plan’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand “keikaku” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
Definition and meanings of “keikaku”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “keikaku”.
- keikaku – 計画 (けいかく) : a noun meaning ‘plan’, ‘program’, or ‘scheme’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
Native speakers use this noun normally to refer to something defining things to do. So, this often means ‘plan’, ‘program’, or ‘scheme’ in Japanese.
The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.
What does “keikaku” literally mean in Japanese?
The kanji expression of “keikaku” consists of the following two kanji characters:
- 計 : a kanji character used to refer to the act of measuring. This kanji can also be found in other words like “tokei“.
- 画 : a kanji character used to refer to the act of drawing or planning.
These two kanji characters tell us that “keikaku” literally means ‘measuring and drawing’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meanings, but still understandable, I think. Plans, programs, and schemes are often made by measuring and drawing.
When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about the meanings of the expressions they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “keikaku” through the detailed kanji check above.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “keikaku” together with its kanji characters. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.
Example #1: how to say “plan” in Japanese
kore ga watashi tachi no keikaku desu – これが私達の計画です (これがわたしたちのけいかくです)
This is our plan.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kore – これ : a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used to mean ‘this’ in Japanese.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kore” to make the subject in the sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi tachi” to make its possessive case, “watashi tachi no”, which means ‘our’ in Japanese.
- desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “keikaku” to make it sound polite.
This is a typical usage of “keikaku”. In this example, it works together with the possessive case, “watashi tachi no”, to mean ‘our plan’ in Japanese.
Example #2: another usage of “keikaku”
boku wa natsu no keikaku wo tate ta – 僕は夏の計画を立てた (ぼくはなつのけいかくをたてた)
I made my plans for the summer.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
- natsu – 夏 (なつ) : a noun meaning ‘summer’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle joining two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this works to join “natsu” and “keikaku”. The formed phrase literally means ‘plans for the summer’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “natsu no keikaku” to make the object in the sentence.
- tate – 立て (たて) : one conjugation of “tateru” which means ‘to set up’, ‘to raise’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. In the example, this is used after “tate” to make its past tense form, “tate ta”.
This is another typical usage of “keikaku”. In this example, it works as a part of the noun phrase, “natsu no keikaku”, which means ‘plans for the summer’ in Japanese. When we want to say “plans” in Japanese, anyway, this noun is a very good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “keikaku” in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- keikaku – 計画 (けいかく) : a noun meaning ‘plan’, ‘program’, or ‘scheme’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. These two kanji characters literally mean ‘measuring and drawing’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meanings, but still understandable, I think. Plans, programs, and schemes are often made by measuring and drawing.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
