見出す・見いだす・見出だす・見い出す|みいだすmiidasu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
みだすmidasu
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Which spelling to use
見出す見出す is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when writing the word.
見いだす見いだす is less common than 見出す. It is a kanji-and-kana spelling of the same word and may be encountered as a written variant.
見出だす見出だす is less common than 見出す and 見いだす. It is another kanji-and-kana spelling of the same word.
見い出す見い出す is the least common of these forms. Its kana ending is irregular, so beginners should choose 見出す instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto find out; to discover; to notice; to detect
- godan verb, transitive verbto select; to pick out
- godan verb, transitive verbto look out (from the inside)
- godan verb, transitive verbto be wide-eyed (in surprise, anger, etc.)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 見出す（みいだす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 見出します（みいだします） |
| Negative (nai) | 見出さない（みいださない） |
| polite (masen) | 見出しません（みいだしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 見出さず・見出さぬ（みいださず・みいださぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 見出した（みいだした） |
| polite (mashita) | 見出しました（みいだしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 見出さなかった（みいださなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 見出しませんでした（みいだしませんでした） |
| Te form | 見出して（みいだして） |
| Potential | 見出せる（みいだせる） |
| Passive | 見出される（みいだされる） |
| Causative | 見出させる（みいださせる） |
| Causative passive | 見出させられる（みいださせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 見出せば（みいだせば） |
| tara | 見出したら（みいだしたら） |
| Volitional | 見出そう（みいだそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 見出しましょう（みいだしましょう） |
| Imperative | 見出せ（みいだせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym見つけるみつけるNeutralThe most common everyday word for finding or spotting something; 「見出す」 leans toward written prose and is typically used for discovering value, possibility, or meaning.
- Synonym突き止めるつきとめるWrittenUsed in formal prose: to track down and establish the truth, such as a cause or the culprit, stressing pursuit to the very end; 「見出す」 is about discovery itself.
- Synonym発見はっけんWrittenSino-Japanese noun/する-verb: finding something never known before, or a person or thing being sought, as in 「失踪者を発見する」; 「見出す」 stresses unearthing value.
- Synonym見つけ出すみつけだすNeutralTo hunt for and find a person or thing whose existence is not yet certain, stressing the search process; 「見出す」 is more about discovering value or meaning.
- Synonym探し出すさがしだすNeutralSearches for and finds something, usually a concrete object or person, though 「意味を探し出す」 is also possible; 「見出す」 stresses discovering value.
- SynonymめっけるCasualA slangy version of 「見つける」 with a casual tone; avoid it in formal settings.
- Synonym探し当てるさがしあてるNeutralTo finally find what you were looking for after searching everywhere; stresses the outcome, and the object is usually a place, person, or thing.
- Synonym嗅ぎ出すかぎだすNeutralTo sniff out something hidden by its scent or traces, figuratively to ferret out secrets; carries a detective-like nuance.
- Synonym探り当てるさぐりあてるWrittenFormal: to find a fact or thing by feeling one's way and investigating; stresses the probing process.
- Synonym嗅ぎつけるかぎつけるNeutralTo get wind of something — a scent, a rumor; typically used when secrets or news are picked up by someone.
- Synonym探り出すさぐりだすWrittenFormal: to worm secrets or hidden circumstances out of someone by probing; 「見出す」 is about unearthing something valuable.
- Synonym見て取るみてとるWrittenFormal: to perceive a situation or someone's state of mind at a glance; it is about seeing, not finding.
- Related気づくきづくNeutralTo notice or become aware of something without actively searching; 「見出す」 stresses discovering value or meaning.
- Related悟るさとるWrittenWritten: to grasp the true meaning or see through principles, also used for Buddhist enlightenment; centers on inner understanding.
- Related見当たるみあたるNeutralIntransitive: to be found, mostly in the negative 「見当たらない」; 「見出す」 is transitive.
- Related感づくかんづくNeutralTo sense something vaguely, often danger or a plot — something bad; 「見出す」 is a clear, definite discovery.
- Antonym見失うみうしなうNeutralAntonym: to lose sight of what you were following; the opposite of 「見出す」. Also figurative: 「自分を見失う」.
- AntonymなくすNeutralAntonym: to lose something you had, or to get rid of it — the opposite of 「見出す」.
For everyday finding, use 「見つける」. Use 「見出す」 for discovering value, meaning, or hope. To establish a truth such as a cause or culprit, use 「突き止める」; to simply notice something, 「気づく」. For search-driven finding, try 「見つけ出す」, 「探し出す」, or 「探し当てる」; casual speech allows 「目っける」. When nothing can be found, say 「見当たらない」. Probing and sniffing out secrets: 「嗅ぎ出す」, 「嗅ぎつける」, 「探り出す」, 「探り当てる」. The noun is 「発見」; the antonyms are 「見失う」 and 「無くす」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
