取り仕切る

• Reading: とりしきる
• Romaji: torishikiru
• Kanji breakdown: 取 (tori/shu) — take, grasp; 仕 (shi) — serve, perform; 切 (ki/setsu) — cut, divide
• Pronunciation: /to.ɾi.ɕi.ki.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To manage; to take full charge of; to oversee and run entirely.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb from 取り (tori) + 仕切る (shikiru — to partition, to manage, to run). 仕切る alone means to divide a space or to run proceedings (as a sumo referee does). 取り仕切る adds the 取り prefix to emphasise comprehensive management of an event, project, or organisation. It implies exclusive, end-to-end responsibility, often with the nuance that the subject is handling everything personally.

Examples

1. 彼女は今年の創立記念パーティーの準備をすべて取り仕切っている。 She is managing all the preparations for this year's founding anniversary party.
2. 老舗旅館の女将は、従業員の采配から接客まで一切を取り仕切っていた。 The proprietress of the long-established inn took full charge of everything, from directing the staff to attending to guests.
3. プロデューサーが制作全体を取り仕切り、各部門の連携を調整した。 The producer oversaw the entire production and coordinated cooperation between each department.

Usage Guide

Context: business, events, management, hospitality

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

取り (comprehensive handling) + 仕切る (shikiru — to partition, manage). 仕切る relates to 仕切り (shikiri — partition, dividing line), the image being one who draws the lines and manages the space between them.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults (professional)

Social background: Professional