The Meaning of midashi [見出し] In Japanese

見出し
みだし
Romaji: midashi N5

What does 見出し mean?

Translation and Meaning

heading, headline, title, caption

Definition

What does 見出し mean? It is the heading or title of a text or section, used to announce content and organize structure. In Japanese usage, a midashi labels sections, articles, or captions and helps readers skim and navigate.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Newspaper headline or article title
  • Section header within a document, book, or webpage
  • Caption or label for diagrams and figures
  • Prominent page heading in UI or blog posts to aid navigation and scanning

Origin

Origins: The term emerged with the development of printed media in Japan, becoming standard in newspapers and periodicals from the late Edo to Meiji periods; today it covers headlines in print and digital contexts.

Composition

  • 見 = to see, look
  • 出 = to come out, to appear
  • Combined they form 見出し, signaling something that appears for the reader before the main text

Usage

Used across formal and informal contexts, including journalism, publishing, websites, and user interfaces. In formal writing, 見出し refers to a clear, concise label for a section or article; in casual contexts, it’s used for blog posts or social media headings; typical placement is at the top of the content to guide readers.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: See it first—the kanji for 見 means see and 出 means to come out; together they picture the heading that appears first on the page.

Variations

  • 見出し — heading; romaji: midashi
  • タイトル — title; romaji: taitoru
  • ヘッドライン — headline; romaji: heddorain
  • 章の見出し — section heading; romaji: shou no midashi

Example Phrases

  • 今朝の新聞の見出しを読んで、メモする。
    Kesa no shinbun no midashi o yonde, memo suru.
    I read this morning’s newspaper headline and take notes.
    Lista:
    • 今朝の (kesa no) – this morning’s
    • 新聞の (shinbun no) – newspaper’s
    • 見出しを (midashi o) – headline
    • 読んで、 (yonde,) – read, and
    • メモする。 (memo suru.) – to take notes
    The word 「見出し」 means ‘headline’; here it functions as a noun in the compound 「新聞の見出し」, showing possession with の.
見出し