The Meaning of shikumi [仕組み] In Japanese

仕組み
しくみ
Romaji: shikumi N3

What does 仕組み mean?

Translation and Meaning

mechanism, structure, arrangement, system, setup

Definition

What does 仕組み mean? It refers to the mechanism or system by which something works, encompassing the underlying structure and arrangement of parts, rules, or processes that enable an operation.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Mechanism or internal workings of a device, system, or process.
  • The overall structure or framework of an organization, plan, or procedure.
  • The arrangement or setup of components that makes something operate.
  • The approach or method by which something is organized, often implying a designed system rather than just a physical object.

Composition

  • 仕 (to do, serve)
  • 組 (to assemble, organize)
  • Together they form 仕組み, meaning a designed arrangement or mechanism that enables a function or operation

Usage

Used to describe how something operates, for both concrete objects and abstract systems; appropriate in formal writing, technical documentation, education, and everyday explanations; typically used as a noun referring to the internal workings, structure, or setup of a process, and can be paired with を, の, or で in sentences.
💡 Tips
Visualize two gears: 仕 as the action of doing, and 組 as arranging; turning them together creates the ‘setup’ that governs how things operate, a memorable image to recall the word.

Variations

  • 構造 (kōzō) — structure
  • 制度 (seido) — system or regulatory framework
  • 仕掛け (shikake) — mechanism or device (colloquial nuance)

Example Phrases

  • 新しい仕組みを会社で皆に紹介した。
    Atarashii shikumi o kaisha de mina ni shōkai shita.
    I introduced the new system to everyone at the company.
    Lista:
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • 仕組みを (shikumi o) – system (object marker)
    • 会社で (kaisha de) – at the company
    • 皆に (mina ni) – to everyone
    • 紹介した (shōkai shita) – introduced
    Core: 「仕組み」 means ‘system’; here it is the object of を in 紹介した.
  • 今日は学校で発電の仕組みを学んだ。
    Kyou wa gakkou de hatsuden no shikumi o mananda.
    Today at school I learned about the mechanism of power generation.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • 学校で (gakkou de) – at school
    • 発電の (hatsuden no) – of power generation
    • 仕組みを (shikumi o) – the mechanism
    • 学んだ (mananda) – learned
    発電は名詞で、「power generation」の意味。 here it is used with の to modify 仕組み: 「発電の仕組み」.
仕組み