How to say "detect" in Japanese

• 見出すみいだすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers the sense of detecting or noticing something that was hidden or not yet found, such as talent or a small sign. The nuance is discovering it after looking, so it often works where English would simply say 'find' or 'spot'.
  奴隷どれいたちは宗教しゅうきょうに活力かつりょくを見みいだす。↗

  Slaves find power in religion.
• 見抜くみぬくCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers detecting what lies behind appearances, especially someone's true feelings, motives, or character. The nuance is seeing through a facade, so it suits 'detect' mainly when the object is a person's hidden heart or mind rather than a thing.
  私は彼かれらの陰謀いんぼうをすぐに見抜みぬいた。↗

  I saw through their plot at once.

Use 「見出す」 for detecting or spotting something previously unnoticed, and 「見抜く」 for seeing through a person's hidden nature, motives, or feelings; the latter is about insight into people rather than finding things.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 見出すみいだすto find out
• 見抜くみぬくto see through
• 嗅ぎ出すかぎだすto scent out