大局(たいきょく)

たいきょく
noun
overall situation; big picture; general situation
1. overall situation; big picture; general state of affairs
The broad, strategic view of a situation, as opposed to individual details. Used when discussing matters from a high-level perspective.
大局(たいきょく)を見(み)て判断(はんだん)する。
To judge by looking at the big picture.
大局(たいきょく)的(てき)な視点(してん)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
A big-picture perspective is necessary.
細(こま)かいことにこだわらず、大局(たいきょく)を見失(みうしな)わないようにしなければならない。
We must not get caught up in the details and lose sight of the big picture.

Composed of 大(たい) (big) and 局(きょく) (situation, phase). Used for strategic thinking where one steps back from details to consider the whole.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 大局(たいきょく)を見(み)る: to look at the big picture
  • 大局(たいきょく)的(てき): big-picture, from an overall perspective
  • 大局(たいきょく)を見失(みうしな)う: to lose sight of the big picture
  • 大局(たいきょく)観(かん): a broad perspective
  • 大局(たいきょく)に立(た)つ: to take a big-picture standpoint

USAGE:
Often used in business, politics, and strategic discussions. The derived form 大局(たいきょく)的(てき) (big-picture, overall) is very common as an adjectival modifier.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 全体(ぜんたい): the whole — more concrete, refers to all parts combined
  • 大局(たいきょく): big picture — strategic overview, more abstract
  • 全貌(ぜんぼう): full picture — complete view of something being investigated
  • 概観(がいかん): general survey — an overview or broad look

NOTE:
The homophone 対局(たいきょく) means a game (of go, shogi, etc.) — completely different meaning.

general
Added 2026.4.3 1:15
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