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Entry Details for 聞く

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[()·]
kiku
godan verb, transitive verb

Alternate Written Forms:

[()·]
kiku

English Meaning(s) for 聞く

godan verb, transitive verb
  1. to hear
  2. to listen (e.g. to music) (esp. 聴く)
  3. to ask; to enquire; to query (聴く is used in legal and official contexts)
  4. to hear about; to hear of; to learn of
  5. to follow (advice, order, etc.); to obey; to listen to; to comply with
  6. to hear (e.g. a plea); to grant (a request); to accept (e.g. an argument); to give consideration to
  7. to smell (esp. incense); to sample (a fragrance)
  8. to taste (alcohol); to try (also 利く)

Definition and Synonyms for 聞く

Inquire inquire about
Synonyms: ただす, 下問, 伺う, 借問, 問う, 問いかける, 問いただす, 問い合わす, 問い合わせる, 尋ねる, 聞く, 訊く, 質問
Listen hear with intention
Synonyms: 入る, 入る, 入れる, 聞く
Grant let have
Synonyms: したためる, 与える, 付与, 受け入れる, 差し許す, 承認, 授ける, 聞く, 聞き入る, 聞き入れる, 聞き届ける, 聴許, 許す, 許可, 認める
Heed pay close attention to
Synonyms: かまう, 介意, 心する, 留意, 聞く
Ask direct or put
Synonyms: 伺う, 問う, 尋ねる, 聞く, 質問
Question pose a question
Synonyms: ただす, 伺う, 借問, 問う, 問いかける, 問いただす, 尋ねる, 聞く, 訊く, 質問, 質疑
Listening the act of hearing attentively
Synonyms: 聞き, 聞く, 聞き取り, 聞き取る, 聴取, 聴聞, 聴音
Ask address a question to and expect an answer from
Synonyms: ただす, おとなう, 仰ぐ, 伺う, 問う, 尋ねる, 聞く, 請う, 質問, 頼む, 願う
Smell inhale the odor of
Synonyms: 匂う, 嗅ぐ, 聞く
Hear perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
Synonyms: 聞く, 聞ける, 聞こえる
Ask seek an answer to
Synonyms: 伺う, 問う, 尋ねる, 聞く, 質問
Heed give heed to
Synonyms: かまう, 介意, 心する, 留意, 聞く
Smell perceive by the olfactory sense
Synonyms: 匂う, 嗅ぐ, 聞く

Meanings for each kanji in 聞く

» hear; ask; listen

Categories 聞く is a member of

Communicate transmit thoughts or feelings
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Sensing becoming aware of something via the senses
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Address speak to
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Ask address a question to and expect an answer from
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Give Voice put into words or an expression
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Perceive to become aware of through the senses
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Give transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
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Obey be obedient to
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Stroke Order Diagrams for 聞く

Conjugations for 聞く

masu stem
[()·]
kiki
Negative stem
[()·]
kika
te-form
[()··]
kiite
Negative te-form
[()····]
kikanakute
Adverbial Negative Form
[()···]
kikanaku
Plain Form
Present Indicative Form
[()·]
kiku
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()···]
kikanai
Past Indicative Form
[()··]
kiita
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()·····]
kikanakatta
Presumptive Form
[()··]
kikou
Polite Form
Present Indicative Form
[()···]
kikimasu
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()····]
kikimasen
Past Indicative Form
[()····]
kikimashita
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()·······]
kikimasendeshita
Presumptive Form
[()·····]
kikimashou
Tai Form
Present Indicative Form
[()···]
kikitai
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()·····]
kikitakunai
Past Indicative Form
[()·····]
kikitakatta
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()·······]
kikitakunakatta
Adjective stem
[()··]
kikita
te-form
[()····]
kikitakute
Negative te-form
[()······]
kikitakunakute
Adverbial Form
[()···]
kikitaku
Provisional Form
[()·····]
kikitakereba
Provisional Negative Form
[()·······]
kikitakunakereba
Conditional Form
[()······]
kikitakattara
Conditional Negative Form
[()········]
kikitakunakattara
Objective Form
[()···]
kikitasa
Imperative Plain Form
Present Indicative Form
[()·]
kike
Imperative Polite Form
Present Indicative Form
[()····]
kikinasai
Provisional Form
Present Indicative Form
[()··]
kikeba
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()·····]
kikanakereba
Present Indicative Negative Colloquial Form
[()····]
kikanakya
Conditional Form
Present Indicative Form
[()···]
kiitara
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()······]
kikanakattara
Alternative Form
Present Indicative Form
[()···]
kiitari
Potential Plain Form
Present Indicative Form
[()··]
kikeru
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()···]
kikenai
Past Indicative Form
[()··]
kiketa
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()·····]
kikenakatta
masu-stem
[()·]
kike
te-form
[()··]
kikete
Negative te-form
[()····]
kikenakute
Potential Polite Form
Present Indicative Form
[()···]
kikemasu
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()····]
kikemasen
Past Indicative Form
[()····]
kikemashita
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()·······]
kikemasendeshita
Passive Plain Form
Present Indicative Form
[()···]
kikareru
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()····]
kikarenai
Past Indicative Form
[()···]
kikareta
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()······]
kikarenakatta
masu stem
[()··]
kikare
te-form
[()···]
kikarete
Negative te-form
[()·····]
kikarenakute
Passive Polite Form
Present Indicative Form
[()····]
kikaremasu
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()·····]
kikaremasen
Past Indicative Form
[()·····]
kikaremashita
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()········]
kikaremasendeshita
Causative Plain Form
Present Indicative Form
[()···]
kikaseru
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()····]
kikasenai
Past Indicative Form
[()···]
kikaseta
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()······]
kikasenakatta
masu stem
[()··]
kikase
te-form
[()···]
kikasete
Negative te-form
[()·····]
kikasenakute
Causative Polite Form
Present Indicative Form
[()····]
kikasemasu
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()·····]
kikasemasen
Past Indicative Form
[()·····]
kikasemashita
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()········]
kikasemasendeshita
Causative Passive Plain Form
Present Indicative Form
[()····]
kikasareru
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()·····]
kikasarenai
Past Indicative Form
[()····]
kikasareta
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()·······]
kikasarenakatta
masu stem
[()···]
kikasare
te-form
[()····]
kikasarete
Negative te-form
[()······]
kikasarenakute
Causative Passive Polite Form
Present Indicative Form
[()·····]
kikasaremasu
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()······]
kikasaremasen
Past Indicative Form
[()······]
kikasaremashita
Past Indicative Negative Form
[()·········]
kikasaremasendeshita
Colloquial Form
Present Indicative Negative Masculine Form
[()··]
kikan
Formal Form
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()··]
kikazu
Classical Form (nu)
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()··]
kikanu
Classical Form (zaru)
Present Indicative Negative Form
[()···]
kikazaru

Intransitive pair for 聞く

[()···]
kikoeru
ichidan verb, intransitive verb

Alternate Written Forms:

[きこ()··]
kikoeru
[()···]
kikoeru
Irregular Kanji
[きこ()··]
kikoeru
Irregular Kanji

English Meanings:

ichidan verb, intransitive verb
  1. to be heard; to be audible
  2. to be said to be; to be reputed

Sample Sentences for 聞く

On hearing the sound, the dog rushed away.
I felt sorry for her when I heard her story.
I've never heard of such a frightening story before.
I read it to my family.
The child heard something fall with a crash.

Comments for 聞く

If you have any questions about this entry, or would like to write a sample sentence using the vocabulary, please do so below. Your comment will appear in the forum for other users of the site to view and discuss.

聞く is more generic and you can use it in any situation when you are listening to something.

聴く is for when you are listening intently or engrossed in something.  You most often seeing for when listening to music (音楽を聴く).

It's interesting to look at the radicals for the kanji in both of these:

聞く is made up of 耳 (ears) and 門 (gate), so it is anything that enters your ears, or to listen to something.

聴 is made up of the 耳 (ears) and 𢛳.  Although 𢛳 isn't used in Japanese, it is related to the Kanji 直 with the meaning まっすぐ (directly).  So it is to directly or intently listen to something.

 

#5 Posted by flint over 2 years ago

I would like to understand the difference between 聞く and 聴く. I'm not sure to understand it. Thank you. 

#4 Posted by yoUniversal4ce over 2 years ago

どうもありがとうございます。

 

#3 Posted by kangaeruhito over 5 years ago

The both mean to ask a question, but 問う is more formal.  You wouldn't use it in a casual setting.

#2 Posted by flint over 5 years ago

I would like to understand the difference between 聞く (kiku) and 問う (tō). I'm not sure to understand it. Thank you.

#1 Posted by kangaeruhito over 5 years ago


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