The narrative centers on the staff at Genbu Shobou publishing company. Araki, a veteran editor in the dictionary department, is seeking a successor as he nears retirement. After Majime Mitsuya—a salesman who is a poor talker—encounters Masashi Nishioka—Araki's sociable and frivolous coworker—Araki overhears their conversation and decides to recruit Majime into the department. The story tracks "the awkward humans" Majime and Masashi as they collaborate to compile a medium-sized Japanese dictionary titled "The Great Passage" (Daitokai).