聞 — Hear, Listen, Ask

Meaning

The kanji 聞 (kiku) primarily conveys the concepts of 'to hear', 'to listen', and 'to ask'. Its meaning is deeply rooted in its visual composition.

This character consists of two main parts: the radical 耳 (mimi), meaning 'ear', on the left, and 門 (mon), meaning 'gate' or 'door', on the right. This combination visually suggests the act of 'hearing at a gate' or 'listening through a door'. This metaphor extends to the broader meanings of perceiving sounds, listening intently, or even asking questions to gather information.

Historically, the character's form evolved from ancient pictographs. These depicted an ear within or near an entrance, emphasizing the use of the ear to perceive what lies beyond a barrier. 聞 has 14 strokes, which contributes to its somewhat intricate appearance. However, understanding its components makes it easier to recall. It is a Grade 2 kanji, taught to Japanese elementary school students in their second year. This highlights its fundamental role in the language. Grasping the meaning of 聞 is essential for basic communication, as it underpins expressions related to auditory perception and information gathering.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

On'yomi readings of 聞 come from ancient Chinese pronunciations. They are typically used when 聞 is part of a compound word, especially with other kanji. For 聞, the most common On'yomi reading is ブン (bun). The モン (mon) reading exists but is rarely encountered in everyday vocabulary.

ブン (bun)

新聞しんぶん (shinbun) — newspaper. This compound literally means 'new hearing' or 'new information', referring to news that is heard or read.
見聞けんぶん (kenbun) — observation; experience; information. Combining 'see' (見) and 'hear' (聞), it denotes knowledge gained through both sight and sound.
多聞たもん (tamon) — extensive knowledge; well-informed (e.g., 多聞天 - Tamonten, a Buddhist deity).

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations. They are often used when 聞 appears alone or with okurigana (trailing hiragana). For 聞, the main Kun'yomi readings are き.く (ki.ku) and き.こえる (ki.koeru).

き.く (kiku) — 'to hear', 'to listen', 'to ask'. This is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object.

音楽おんがくを聞きく (ongaku o kiku) — to listen to music.
話はなしを聞きく (hanashi o kiku) — to listen to a story or talk.
質問しつもんを聞きく (shitsumon o kiku) — to ask a question.
医者いしゃに話はなしを聞きく (isha ni hanashi o kiku) — to consult a doctor (literally, 'to hear a doctor's story').

き.こえる (kikoeru) — 'to be audible', 'to be heard'. This is an intransitive verb, meaning sounds reach one's ears naturally or unintentionally.

音おとが聞きこえる (oto ga kikoeru) — A sound can be heard.
声こえが聞きこえる (koe ga kikoeru) — A voice can be heard.
聞きこえない (kikoenai) — cannot be heard; inaudible.

Common Words & Compounds

The kanji 聞 forms part of many essential Japanese words, reflecting its broad application in contexts related to sound, information, and communication. Here are some common compounds grouped by theme:

Information & Media

新聞しんぶん (shinbun) — newspaper
ニュースにゅーす番組ばんぐみを聞きく (nyuusu bangumi o kiku) — to listen to a news program
見聞けんぶん (kenbun) — observation; experience; information

Sound & Auditory Perception

聞きききとり (kikitori) — listening comprehension
聞ききき手て (kikite) — listener; audience
風聞ふうぶん (fuubun) — rumor; hearsay (lit. 'wind hearing')
聞こえきこえ (kikoe) — reputation; fame (e.g., 彼の聞こえは良い - kare no kikoe wa yoi - He has a good reputation.)

Communication & Inquiry

聞ききき込み (kikikomi) — inquiry; investigation (e.g., 警察が聞き込みをする - keisatsu ga kikikomi o suru - The police conduct an inquiry.)
聞ききき返す (kikikaesu) — to ask again; to repeat a question
耳みみを傾かたむける (mimi o katamukeru) — to lend an ear; to listen attentively

Example Sentences

あの音おとが聞きこえますか？

Ano oto ga kikoemasu ka?

Can you hear that sound?

毎日まいにち、ラジオを聞ききます。

Mainichi, rajio o kikimasu.

I listen to the radio every day.

先生せんせいの話はなしをよく聞きいてください。

Sensei no hanashi o yoku kiite kudasai.

Please listen carefully to the teacher's story.

友達ともだちから面白おもしろい話はなしを聞ききました。

Tomodachi kara omoshiroi hanashi o kikimashita.

I heard an interesting story from my friend.

この歌うたはいつ聞きいても感動かんどうします。

Kono uta wa itsu kiitemo kandou shimasu.

This song always moves me, no matter when I hear it.

会議かいぎで重要じゅうようなことを聞きき逃のがさないようにしてください。

Kaigi de juuyou na koto o kikinogasanai you ni shite kudasai.

Please try not to miss any important information during the meeting.

隣となりの部屋へやから何なにか声こえが聞きこえてきました。

Tonari no heya kara nani ka koe ga kikoete kimashita.

Some voices could be heard from the next room.

彼かれはいつも他人たにんの意見いけんを真剣しんけんに聞きこうとします。

Kare wa itsumo tanin no iken o shinken ni kikou to shimasu.

He always tries to seriously listen to other people's opinions.

私わたしは将来しょうらいの計画けいかくについて、専門家せんもんかに意見いけんを聞ききました。

Watashi wa shourai no keikaku ni tsuite, senmonka ni iken o kikimashita.

I asked an expert for their opinion about my future plans.

聞こえるきこえるように話はなしてください。

Kikoeru you ni hanashite kudasai.

Please speak so that you can be heard.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

To remember the kanji 聞, imagine an 'ear' (耳) placed inside a 'gate' or 'door' (門). Picture yourself standing outside a closed gate, pressing your ear against it to 'hear' what's happening inside. Perhaps you're 'listening' for specific sounds or even trying to 'ask' a question through the door to someone on the other side. This vivid image directly connects the kanji's components to its core meanings. The ear actively works to perceive sounds or gather information despite the barrier of the gate. This scenario of straining to hear or inquire through a doorway makes remembering 'hear', 'listen', and 'ask' much easier.