聞く・聴く|きくkiku[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
聞く聞く（きく） is the most common written form and covers both the meanings “to hear” and “to listen,” including listening to music.
聴く聴く（きく） is a less common written variant that can suggest listening attentively, especially to music; it appears as an alternative spelling.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto hear
- godan verb, transitive verbto listen (e.g. to music)esp. 聴く
- godan verb, transitive verbto ask; to enquire; to query聴く is used in legal and official contexts
- godan verb, transitive verbto hear about; to hear of; to learn of
- godan verb, transitive verbto follow (advice, order, etc.); to obey; to listen to; to comply with
- godan verb, transitive verbto hear (e.g. a plea); to grant (a request); to accept (e.g. an argument); to give consideration to
- godan verb, transitive verbto smell (esp. incense); to sample (a fragrance)
- godan verb, transitive verbto taste (alcohol); to tryalso 利く
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 聞く（きく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 聞きます（ききます） |
| Negative (nai) | 聞かない（きかない） |
| polite (masen) | 聞きません（ききません） |
| classical zu / nu | 聞かず・聞かぬ（きかず・きかぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 聞いた（きいた） |
| polite (mashita) | 聞きました（ききました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 聞かなかった（きかなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 聞きませんでした（ききませんでした） |
| Te form | 聞いて（きいて） |
| Potential | 聞ける（きける） |
| Passive | 聞かれる（きかれる） |
| Causative | 聞かせる（きかせる） |
| Causative passive | 聞かせられる・聞かされる（きかせられる・きかされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 聞けば（きけば） |
| tara | 聞いたら（きいたら） |
| Volitional | 聞こう（きこう） |
| polite (mashou) | 聞きましょう（ききましょう） |
| Imperative | 聞け（きけ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
声が聞こえる
声を聞く
聞こえる describes a sound being heard without deliberate effort (as in 声が聞こえる), while 聞く describes actively listening to something (as in 声を聞く).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym問いかけるといかけるNeutralPuts a question to someone or to society at large, as in 「読者に問いかける」, with a nuance of prompting reflection.
- Related尋ねるたずねるNeutralCovers only the asking side of 「聞く」—never hearing or listening. A shade more formal; typical in 「道を尋ねる」.
- Related問い合わせるといあわせるNeutralAsking to check or confirm something, typically with an organization or the person in charge, as in 「窓口に問い合わせる」.
- Related質問しつもんNeutralPutting a question to someone, as in 「質問する」; typical in classes and meetings, and more formal than 「聞く」.
- Related問うとうWrittenWritten-style asking; also used for holding someone accountable, as in 「責任を問う」. Rare in everyday speech.
- Related伺ううかがうFormalHumble language for 「聞く」, 「尋ねる」 and 「訪れる」; use of your own respectful actions, as in 「お話を伺う」.
- Related訊くきくNeutralAnother way to write the asking sense of 「聞く」, read the same; it points specifically to putting questions, never to hearing.
- Related問いただすといただすNeutralPresses or grills someone to get at the truth, as in 「理由を問いただす」; much stronger in tone than 「聞く」.
- RelatedただすWrittenWritten word for asking someone to clear something up, as in 「真意を質す」; in speech people say 「聞く」 or 「問いただす」.
- Related聞き届けるききとどけるWrittenHears a request out and grants it, as in 「願いを聞き届ける」; the emphasis is on granting permission, not on asking.
- Related聞き合わせるききあわせるNeutralMaking inquiries in several quarters and comparing what you learn, as in 「評判を聞き合わせる」; fairly uncommon.
- Related聞き入れるききいれるNeutralTaking advice or a request to heart and acting on it, as in 「忠告を聞き入れる」; about accepting, not asking.
- AntonymしゃべるCasualThe other side of a conversation: talking or chatting a lot. Colloquial, where 「聞く」 is the listening side.
- Antonym言ういうNeutralThe counterpart of 「聞く」 in conversation: producing words, saying something aloud.
- Antonym話すはなすNeutralThe counterpart of 「聞く」: speaking to someone or conversing; also used for speaking a language.
「聞く」 covers both hearing or listening and asking. For asking, prefer 「尋ねる」 when a bit more formality is needed, 「問い合わせる」 with institutions, and the humble 「伺う」; use 「聞き入れる」 for accepting a request. The antonyms 「言う」, 「話す」 and 「喋る」 name the speaking side.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
