企画

That's a great question! Both 企画 (kikaku) and 計画 (keikaku) involve planning, but they have different nuances. 企画 (kikaku) focuses more on the creative and conceptual side – coming up with the idea, the initial design, and the overall concept for something new. Think of it as the 'what' and 'why'.

計画 (keikaku), on the other hand, is about the detailed execution and scheduling of a plan. It's the 'how' and 'when'. So, you might do a 企画 (kikaku) for a new product, and then create a 計画 (keikaku) for its development and launch.

For example:
新商品企画 (Shin shouhin kikaku) - new product planning/concept
旅行計画 (Ryokou keikaku) - travel plan/itinerary

Yes, it can! While 企画 (kikaku) is a noun, you can turn it into a verb by adding する (suru), making it 企画する (kikaku suru). This means 'to plan,' 'to design,' or 'to organize.'

For instance:
イベントを企画する (Event wo kikaku suru) - To plan an event.

In a business context, 企画 (kikaku) is very common. You'd use it when talking about brainstorming new ideas, developing proposals, or conceptualizing projects. It's often used in phrases like:

企画書 (Kikakusho) - a proposal document
新商品企画 (Shin shouhin kikaku) - new product planning/project
企画会議 (Kikaku kaigi) - planning meeting

企画 (kikaku) is a neutral term, so it can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, because it often refers to business or official activities, you'll generally encounter it more in formal settings, like in an office or when discussing projects. It's a standard and respectful term.

While not exactly an idiom, a very common phrase you'll hear is 企画書 (kikakusho), which means 'proposal document' or 'project proposal.' This is something you'll definitely encounter in a business environment.

Another one is 企画部 (kikakubu), which refers to the 'planning department' or 'marketing department' in a company.

While you *could* technically say 旅行を企画する (ryokou wo kikaku suru), it sounds a bit more formal or like you're 'designing' a trip as a project. For simply 'planning a trip,' 旅行の計画を立てる (ryokou no keikaku wo tateru) or just 旅行を計画する (ryokou wo keikaku suru) using 計画 (keikaku) is much more natural and common.

Remember, 企画 (kikaku) emphasizes the creative, conceptual aspect more, while 計画 (keikaku) is about the practical steps.

Generally, 企画 (kikaku) is more commonly used for professional, group, or public-facing plans rather than purely personal ones. For personal plans, like planning your day or your weekend, 計画 (keikaku) or even simple phrases like 予定 (yotei) 'schedule/plan' are much more appropriate.

For instance, you wouldn't typically say 週末の企画 (shuumatsu no kikaku) for 'weekend plans.' You'd use 週末の予定 (shuumatsu no yotei).

Let's break it down:
企 (ki): This kanji means 'to undertake,' 'to plan,' or 'to scheme.' It conveys the idea of starting something or coming up with an idea.
画 (kaku): This kanji means 'stroke,' 'picture,' or 'to draw.' In this context, it refers to drawing up a design or a picture of something, thus contributing to the idea of a plan or design.

Together, they form 企画 (kikaku), emphasizing the conceptual and design aspects of planning.

To ask 'What are you planning?' in a way that suggests a project, event, or new idea, you could say:

何を企画していますか？ (Nani wo kikaku shite imasu ka?) - 'What are you planning/designing?'

This is very natural if you suspect the person is working on a new project or proposal. If it's a general plan, 計画 (keikaku) might be more common, but 企画 (kikaku) works well for specific 'projects'.

Yes, to a large extent, it does! 企画 (kikaku) often carries the nuance of creating something new, innovating, or coming up with an original concept. While it involves planning, the emphasis is on the initial, creative phase of developing an idea or project. If you're just organizing existing elements or following a routine, 計画 (keikaku) would be a better fit.