How to say "listening" in Japanese

• ヒアリングCommon
  nounThe katakana word for listening as a skill in foreign-language education: listening comprehension, the 'listening' of lessons and exams. Use it when English 'listening' means the studied skill rather than an act of hearing.
• 傍聴ぼうちょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbListening in the sense of being present while a lecture, hearing or parliament session takes place, without taking part: you sit in and listen as an observer rather than as a participant.
  時々ときどき、政治家せいじかの一人ひとりがテレビの討論会とうろんかいに出でて傍聴者ぼうちょうしゃの意見いけんを押おさえつけようとする場面ばめんをみる。↗

  Sometimes, one of the politicians can be seen trying to keep the audience's opinions under control during televised debates.
• 聴聞ちょうもんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA general word for the act of listening or hearing, with no particular setting attached. For most everyday 'listening' it is seldom the word you want — the other three cover specific situations.
  「この用語ようごの意味いみをはっきりさせて下ください」とビジネスマンは聴聞ちょうもん取り引とりひきの場ばで要求ようきゅうした。↗

  "Define your terms," requested the businessman at the contract hearings.
• 聴取ちょうしゅCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbListening to something such as a radio broadcast: the act of receiving the sound as a listener. It is the natural choice when 'listening' means tuning in to radio or similar audio.

Choose by situation: 「ヒアリング」 for listening in foreign-language education, 傍聴 for sitting in on a lecture, hearing or parliament session, 聴取 for listening to the radio, and 聴聞 for listening or hearing in general.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ヒアリングlistening (esp. in foreign language education)
• 傍聴ぼうちょうlistening (to a lecture, hearing, parliament session, etc.)
• 聴聞ちょうもんlistening
• リスニングlistening
• 受話じゅわreception (telephone)
• 聴取ちょうしゅlistening (e.g. to the radio)