聞き取る・聴き取る|ききとるkikitoru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
聞き取る聞き取る is the most common form and the recommended choice for learners. Use it when writing this verb, including when describing catching, making out, following, or understanding words.
聴き取る聴き取る is less common than 聞き取る and is an alternative written form with the same basic meaning. It may appear in written material; learners should generally choose 聞き取る.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto catch (someone's words); to make out; to follow; to understandあなたの姓が聞き取れませんでした。↗I didn't catch your last name.
- godan verb, transitive verbto ask about (a situation, circumstances, etc.); to inquire
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 聞き取る（ききとる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 聞き取ります（ききとります） |
| Negative (nai) | 聞き取らない（ききとらない） |
| polite (masen) | 聞き取りません（ききとりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 聞き取らず・聞き取らぬ（ききとらず・ききとらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 聞き取った（ききとった） |
| polite (mashita) | 聞き取りました（ききとりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 聞き取らなかった（ききとらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 聞き取りませんでした（ききとりませんでした） |
| Te form | 聞き取って（ききとって） |
| Potential | 聞き取れる（ききとれる） |
| Passive | 聞き取られる（ききとられる） |
| Causative | 聞き取らせる（ききとらせる） |
| Causative passive | 聞き取らせられる・聞き取らされる（ききとらせられる・ききとらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 聞き取れば（ききとれば） |
| tara | 聞き取ったら（ききとったら） |
| Volitional | 聞き取ろう（ききとろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 聞き取りましょう（ききとりましょう） |
| Imperative | 聞き取れ（ききとれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym捉えるとらえるNeutralGrasps or seizes a point, and can also mean physical capture; 聞き取る is making out or understanding what you hear, and can also mean asking about a situation.
- SynonymわかるNeutralThe broadest word for understanding; not limited to hearing. 聞き取る focuses on identifying spoken words by ear.
- SynonymキャッチCasualColloquial loanword for receiving signals or catching information; unlike 聞き取る, it does not stress hearing words clearly.
- Related捕捉ほそくWrittenA written, technical term for capturing or grasping, as in radar picking up a target; 聞き取る is for everyday listening.
Use 「聞き取る」 for making out or understanding what someone says, as in 「早口で聞き取れない」. For understanding in general say 「分かる」, for grasping the point 「捉える」, and for picking up information 「キャッチする」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
