見い出す

• Reading: みいだす
• Romaji: miidasu
• Kanji breakdown: 見 (ken/mi) — see, look; 出 (shutsu/da) — come out, produce
• Pronunciation: /mi.i.da.sɯ/

Meaning

To find; to discover; to detect; to identify something that was not immediately apparent.

A Group 1 (godan) verb combining 見い (an emphatic form of 見, to look) and 出す (to bring out, to produce). Unlike 見つける (to find by chance), 見い出す implies active searching or discernment — the subject perceives something that requires insight or sustained attention to uncover. Commonly used for discovering solutions, talents, or value where others have not looked.

Examples

1. 研究チームは廃棄物処理の新たな解決策を見い出すことに成功した。 The research team succeeded in finding a new solution for waste disposal.
2. 長い不況の中でも、起業家たちはビジネスチャンスを見い出していた。 Even during the long recession, entrepreneurs were discovering business opportunities.
3. 彼はありふれた風景の中に独自の美しさを見い出す才能があった。 He had a talent for finding unique beauty in ordinary landscapes.

Usage Guide

Context: research, business, art, problem-solving

Tone: intellectual

Origin & History

Compound of 見い (emphatic reading of 見 — to look) and 出す (to bring out). The combination implies actively drawing out something hidden through careful observation or thought.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: All classes