伏線

• Reading: ふくせん
• Romaji: fukusen
• Kanji breakdown: 伏 (fuku/fuse) — hide, lie in wait; 線 (sen) — line, thread
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.kɯ.se.ɴ/

Meaning

Foreshadowing; a hint planted earlier in a narrative; groundwork laid in advance for a later development.

A noun with both literary and practical uses. In narrative contexts, it describes a planted detail or hint that foreshadows a later development. In practical contexts, 伏線を張る means to lay the groundwork for a future action or proposal. 伏線を回収する (to 'collect' a planted hint, i.e. pay off a setup) is widely used in modern Japanese pop culture.

Examples

1. 小説の序盤に張られた伏線が、終章で見事に回収された。 The foreshadowing planted at the beginning of the novel was brilliantly resolved in the final chapter.
2. 彼は交渉の伏線として、あらかじめ先方の担当者と非公式に接触していた。 As groundwork for the negotiations, he had made unofficial contact with the other party's representative in advance.
3. 映画の冒頭シーンが重要な伏線だったことに、二回目に観て初めて気づいた。 It wasn't until watching the movie a second time that I realized the opening scene was important foreshadowing.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, film, narrative, strategy, negotiation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 伏 (fuku, lie face down/hide) and 線 (sen, line/thread). The image of a hidden thread woven beneath the surface that guides events later. Used in both literary criticism and everyday strategic planning.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal