Translation guide
The English word "highlight" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: the best or most important part of something, a bright or light area in hair or on a surface, marking text with a bright color, and emphasizing or drawing attention to something. Each meaning has its own natural Japanese expressions.
Referring to the most memorable, exciting, or significant part of an event, experience, or thing.
A loanword from English, widely used in Japanese to mean the most exciting or important part of something, especially in sports, events, or summaries.
試合のハイライトを見ましたか？
Did you see the highlights of the game?
旅行のハイライトは富士山に登ったことです。
The highlight of the trip was climbing Mt. Fuji.
Literally 'place worth seeing', used for the highlights or main attractions of a place, performance, or event. More native-sounding than ハイライト in some contexts.
A literary term meaning 'the finest part' or 'the best example'. Used in formal or written contexts to pick out the most outstanding element.
Referring to a lighter streak in hair, or a bright spot in a picture or on a surface.
The standard term for highlights in hair or makeup, as well as bright areas in art or photography.
髪にハイライトを入れたいんですけど。
I'd like to get highlights in my hair.
この写真はハイライトが強すぎる。
The highlights in this photo are too strong.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'bright part', used when explaining highlights in a more general sense, such as in art or on a surface.
絵の明るい部分をもう少し強調してください。
Please emphasize the highlights in the painting a bit more.
Using a highlighter pen or digital tool to mark important text.
The most common way to say 'highlight text' in Japanese. Literally 'draw a line with a marker'. The verb 引く (ひく) is used for drawing lines.
重要な部分にマーカーで線を引いてください。
Please highlight the important parts with a marker.
教科書にマーカーで線を引いて勉強した。
I studied by highlighting in the textbook.
Literally 'color with a highlighter pen'. 蛍光ペン is the Japanese word for highlighter pen. Slightly more specific than マーカー.
この単語を蛍光ペンで塗っておいて。
Highlight these words with a highlighter.
A direct loanword verb, used mainly in digital contexts (e.g., highlighting text on a computer). Not common for physical highlighting.
テキストをハイライトしてコピーしてください。
Highlight the text and copy it.
Making something stand out or be noticed, often in a presentation, discussion, or report.
The standard verb for 'emphasize' or 'stress'. Used when you want to highlight a point or feature.
彼はその問題の重要性を強調した。
He highlighted the importance of the issue.
このグラフは売上の増加を強調しています。
This graph highlights the increase in sales.
Means 'to attract attention' or 'to draw focus'. Used when something naturally becomes a highlight or when you want to make something stand out.
そのニュースは大きな注目を集めた。
The news highlighted a major issue. (lit. The news attracted a lot of attention.)
While ハイライト is understood for 'best part' and 'hair/art highlights', it is not natural for the action of marking text or emphasizing a point. Use the specific expressions given for those meanings.
この映画の見どころは最後の戦いのシーンです。
The highlight of this movie is the final battle scene.
The highlight of this exhibition is Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers'.
A more vivid expression meaning 'to bring into relief' or 'to highlight clearly', often used for revealing contrasts or problems.
その事件は社会の不平等を浮き彫りにした。
The incident highlighted the inequality in society.