diff --git a/ftl/core/browsing.ftl b/ftl/core/browsing.ftl
index 0c6349fcd..4404e6191 100644
--- a/ftl/core/browsing.ftl
+++ b/ftl/core/browsing.ftl
@@ -149,6 +149,13 @@ browsing-sidebar-save-current-search = Save Current Search
 browsing-sidebar-card-state = Card State
 browsing-sidebar-flags = Flags
 browsing-today = Today
+browsing-tooltip-card-modified = The last time changes were made to a card, including reviews, flags and deck changes
+browsing-tooltip-note-modified = The last time changes were made to a note, usually field content or tag edits
+browsing-tooltip-card = The name of a card's card template
+browsing-tooltip-cards = The number of cards to a note
+browsing-tooltip-notetype = The name of a note's notetype
+browsing-tooltip-question = The front side of a card, customisable in the card template editor
+browsing-tooltip-answer = The back side of a card, customisable in the card template editor
 browsing-studied-today = Studied
 browsing-added-today = Added
 browsing-again-today = Again
diff --git a/proto/anki/search.proto b/proto/anki/search.proto
index 91a7d9148..fea516db4 100644
--- a/proto/anki/search.proto
+++ b/proto/anki/search.proto
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ message BrowserColumns {
     Sorting sorting = 4;
     bool uses_cell_font = 5;
     Alignment alignment = 6;
+    string cards_mode_tooltip = 7;
+    string notes_mode_tooltip = 8;
   }
   repeated Column columns = 1;
 }
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/table/state.py b/qt/aqt/browser/table/state.py
index f98a8d3b3..a75acaa5e 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/table/state.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/table/state.py
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ class ItemState(ABC):
             column.notes_mode_label if self.is_notes_mode() else column.cards_mode_label
         )
 
+    def column_tooltip(self, column: Column) -> str:
+        if self.is_notes_mode():
+            return column.notes_mode_tooltip
+        return column.cards_mode_tooltip
+
     # Columns and sorting
 
     # abstractproperty is deprecated but used due to mypy limitations
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/table/table.py b/qt/aqt/browser/table/table.py
index 3f555fc25..d5dab3513 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/table/table.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/table/table.py
@@ -338,10 +338,12 @@ class Table:
     def _on_header_context(self, pos: QPoint) -> None:
         gpos = self._view.mapToGlobal(pos)
         m = QMenu()
+        m.setToolTipsVisible(True)
         for key, column in self._model.columns.items():
             a = m.addAction(self._state.column_label(column))
             a.setCheckable(True)
             a.setChecked(self._model.active_column_index(key) is not None)
+            a.setToolTip(self._state.column_tooltip(column))
             qconnect(
                 a.toggled,
                 lambda checked, key=key: self._on_column_toggled(checked, key),
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_table.rs b/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_table.rs
index 7bcd74690..b0fd2bbc7 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_table.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/search/browser_table.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ impl browser_table::Column {
             sorting: self.sorting() as i32,
             uses_cell_font: self.uses_cell_font(),
             alignment: self.alignment() as i32,
+            cards_mode_tooltip: self.cards_mode_tooltip(i18n),
+            notes_mode_tooltip: self.notes_mode_tooltip(i18n),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/browser_table.rs b/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
index 9e7e64d06..b2cb3d413 100644
--- a/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
@@ -156,6 +156,27 @@ impl Column {
         .into()
     }
 
+    pub fn cards_mode_tooltip(self, i18n: &I18n) -> String {
+        match self {
+            Self::Answer => i18n.browsing_tooltip_answer(),
+            Self::CardMod => i18n.browsing_tooltip_card_modified(),
+            Self::Cards => i18n.browsing_tooltip_card(),
+            Self::NoteMod => i18n.browsing_tooltip_note_modified(),
+            Self::Notetype => i18n.browsing_tooltip_notetype(),
+            Self::Question => i18n.browsing_tooltip_question(),
+            _ => "".into(),
+        }
+        .into()
+    }
+
+    pub fn notes_mode_tooltip(self, i18n: &I18n) -> String {
+        match self {
+            Self::Cards => i18n.browsing_tooltip_cards(),
+            _ => return self.cards_mode_label(i18n),
+        }
+        .into()
+    }
+
     pub fn sorting(self) -> pb::browser_columns::Sorting {
         use pb::browser_columns::Sorting;
         match self {