English–Japanese
“laying the groundwork” in Japanese
Japanese
Pronunciation
Romajinemawashi
Example
会議の前に根回しをします。kai gi no mae ni ne mawa shi o shi ma su
I lay the groundwork before the meeting.
How to say “laying the groundwork” in Japanese
“Laying the groundwork” in Japanese is 根回し (nemawashi).
It describes arranging support and agreement in advance, often through private discussions, before presenting a plan or making a decision publicly.
Example sentences with 根回し
発表を成功させるため、担当者に根回しをしました。hap pyō o sei kō sa se ru ta me tan tō sha ni ne mawa shi o shi ma shi ta
I made arrangements with the people in charge to ensure the presentation would succeed.
Tips for using 根回し
- The English loanword nemawashi is used in some business contexts for gaining agreement before a meeting, which shows that a formal meeting may confirm a decision rather than create it.