1.
foreshadowing, setup, groundwork
A hint or clue planted early in a story, plan, or course of events that becomes significant later. Also used figuratively for preparations laid in advance.
Etymology
伏 (lie hidden) + 線 (line): a line running hidden beneath the surface.
Common collocations
- 伏線を張る: to plant foreshadowing, to set up a plot thread
- 伏線を回収する: to pay off the setup
- 伏線回収が見事だ: the payoff is brilliant
- 巧みな伏線: skillful foreshadowing
Usage
Once a term of literary and film criticism, 伏線 is now everyday talk among fans of manga, anime, dramas and novels, and 伏線回収 is a popular phrase in its own right. Figuratively it means groundwork laid in advance: 交渉の伏線を張る (to lay the groundwork for negotiations).