Japanese kanji 聞: listen and ask

The idea

Compare 聞く（きく） and 聞こえる（きこえる） in the table: a character can have different readings in different words. 聞 has 14 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 家いえで音楽おんがくを聞ききます。I listen to music at home.
• 駅えきで道みちを聞ききます。I ask for directions at the station.
• 先生せんせいの話はなしをよく聞ききます。I listen carefully to the teacher.
• 外そとから声こえが聞きこえます。I can hear a voice from outside.
• 父ちちは毎朝まいあさ新聞しんぶんを読よみます。My father reads the newspaper every morning.
• この新聞しんぶんは新あたらしいです。This newspaper is new.

Watch out

聞く can mean listening or asking, depending on context. 聞こえる describes a sound that is audible rather than an active attempt to listen. In 新聞, 聞 is read ぶん.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 聞く in hiragana.

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   きく

   聞く is read きく; the complete word means listen; ask.

2. Write the reading of 聞こえる in hiragana.

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   きこえる

   聞こえる is read きこえる; the complete word means be audible; can be heard.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 新＿（しんぶん）.

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   聞

   聞 completes 新聞, read しんぶん; the complete word means newspaper.

Use it today

Cover the table and write 聞 from memory. Read 聞く and 聞こえる aloud, then make a sentence and check its meaning against the examples.