耳

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 耳が聞こえません。▶ —
   I can't hear.
2. 猫の耳は小さいです。▶ —
   A cat's ears are small.

Collocations

Mnemonic

みみ — 耳, Yamato. A short word that repeats one mora twice. The kanji 耳 is the side view of a human ear, drawn straight from life. Idioms unfold the auditory metaphor ── 耳に入る mimi ni hairu (enters the ear): to hear of, to get wind of. 耳が早い mimi ga hayai (ear is quick): to hear news fast. The Korean 'gwitsongmal / gwiga bakda' move on the same tracks. In the onyomi じ ji ── 耳鼻科 jibika (ENT clinic = 'ear + nose + department'). Two kanji name a whole medical specialty. The Korean reading i is sister to the onyomi じ.

Quick check

1. "I got wind of a rumor" — Japanese idiom?

   • 噂が耳に入りました uwasa ga mimi ni hairimashita (idiom)
   • 噂が耳に来ました (= "rumor came to ear", awkward)
   • 噂が耳を聞きました (= "rumor heard ear", nonsense)
   • 噂を耳に入れた (= "I put rumor in ear", different)