Recognize 耳 in everyday Japanese, learn its meanings (ear) and read it as part of complete words.

The idea

A kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn each reading with its word. Compare 耳（みみ） and 耳鼻科（じびか） in the table. 耳 has 6 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
耳みみear
耳鼻科じびかear, nose and throat clinic
耳元みみもとby the ear
耳鳴りみみなりringing in the ears

Examples

  • 今日きょうは耳みみが痛いたいです。My ear hurts today.
  • うさぎの耳みみは長ながいです。A rabbit’s ears are long.
  • お風呂ふろで耳みみを洗あらいます。I wash my ears in the bath.
  • あの犬いぬは耳みみが大おおきいです。That dog has big ears.
  • 明日あした、耳鼻科じびかへ行いきます。I will go to the ear, nose and throat clinic tomorrow.
  • 友達ともだちが耳元みみもとで話はなします。A friend speaks close to my ear.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

耳 is read みみ, while 耳鼻科 is read じびか. Learn the reading of each complete word; the character does not have just one pronunciation. 耳 by itself is みみ; in 耳鼻科 it is じ. Compare the shape of 耳 with 目, “eye”.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 耳 in hiragana.

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    みみ

    耳 is read みみ; the expression means “ear”.

  2. Write the reading of 耳鼻科 in hiragana.

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    じびか

    耳鼻科 is read じびか; the expression means “ear, nose and throat clinic”.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿鼻科（じびか）.

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    耳

    耳 completes 耳鼻科, read じびか; the expression means “ear, nose and throat clinic”.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 耳 from memory, and read 耳 and 耳鼻科 aloud. Check both the readings and meanings.