耳

• Reading: みみ
• Romaji: mimi
• Kanji breakdown: 耳 (ji/mimi) — ear
• Pronunciation: /mi.mi/

Meaning

Ear. The organ of hearing.

Refers to the physical ear and also to the sense of hearing. Common expressions include 耳がいい (good hearing / a good ear for music), 耳に入る (to hear about something), and 耳を傾ける (to listen carefully). Can also refer to ear-shaped edges, such as the crust of bread.

Examples

1. 音楽を大きい音で聞くと耳に悪いです。 Listening to music at high volume is bad for your ears.
2. 祖母は耳が少し遠くなりました。 My grandmother's hearing has gotten a little worse.
3. 犬は耳がとてもいいです。 Dogs have very good hearing.

Usage Guide

Context: health, daily life, music

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 耳 is a pictograph depicting the shape of a human ear.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal