企てる

• Reading: くわだてる
• Romaji: kuwadateru
• Kanji breakdown: 企 (ki/kuwada) — plan, scheme, undertake
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.wa.da.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To plan; to plot; to scheme; to devise. Often implies planning something ambitious or secretive.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb that carries a nuance of deliberate, sometimes covert planning. While it can be neutral (planning an event), it frequently appears in contexts involving conspiracies, schemes, or bold undertakings. The noun form 企て means a plot or scheme.

Examples

1. 彼らは会社の乗っ取りを企てていた。 They were plotting a hostile takeover of the company.
2. 大規模なイベントを企てるには準備が必要だ。 Pulling off a large-scale event requires thorough preparation.
3. 脱走を企てた囚人が捕まった。 A prisoner who attempted to escape was caught.

Usage Guide

Context: news, fiction, business

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From 企 (to plan, to scheme), which depicts a person (人) standing on tiptoe (止) to look ahead — the image of someone straining to see what lies ahead, thus planning for the future.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal