見出(みだ)し語(ご)

みだしご
noun
headword; entry word; lemma
language
1. headword; entry word; lemma
The word or phrase listed as the main entry in a dictionary, encyclopedia, or index under which definitions and information are given.
この辞書(じしょ)の見出(みだ)し語(ご)は五万語(ごまんご)ある。
This dictionary has 50,000 headwords.
見出(みだ)し語(ご)は太字(ふとじ)で表示(ひょうじ)されている。
The headwords are displayed in bold.
動詞(どうし)は終止形(しゅうしけい)が見出(みだ)し語(ご)として載(の)っているので、「食(た)べます」ではなく「食(た)べる」で引(ひ)く。
Verbs are listed as headwords in their dictionary form, so you look up 'taberu,' not 'tabemasu.'

A compound of 見出(みだ)し (heading/headline) and 語(ご) (word). This is an essential term for anyone learning how to use Japanese dictionaries. In Japanese lexicography, verbs are listed in their 終止形(しゅうしけい) (dictionary form), adjectives in their basic form, and nouns as-is.

The term is also used metaphorically in publishing and journalism to refer to the key terms that organize content.

Common collocations

  • 見出(みだ)し語(ご)数(すう): number of headwords
  • 見出(みだ)し語(ご)を引(ひ)く: to look up a headword
  • 見出(みだ)し語(ご)として載(の)る: to be listed as a headword

Related words

Related Words

Related: 語彙(ごい) (vocabulary)
Related: 辞書(じしょ) (dictionary)
Related: 索引(さくいん) (index)
Compare: 鍵語(かぎご) (keyword)
Compare: 索引語(さくいんご) (index term)
general
Added 2026.4.22 18:26 · Revised 2026.9.9 0:23
24500/24989_midashigo