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索引
さくいん
sakuin
The term refers to a systematic list of keywords, names, or topics found at the end of a document, allowing a reader to quickly locate specific information. It functions as a search tool for the physical or digital page.
It is crucial to distinguish "索引" (index) from "目次" (table of contents). While "目次" lists the overall structure of the book in the order it appears (chapters, sections), "索引" lists specific terms usually in alphabetical or syllabary order, regardless of where they appear in the text.
In terms of usage, the verb "引く" (hiku) is the standard collocation for using an index. While "見る" (miru - to look at) is acceptable, "索引を引く" specifically describes the act of searching for a term within the index to find the corresponding page number.
Meanings
An alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc., with references to the places where they occur, typically found at the end of a book.
索引を引く。
Look up a word in the index.