聞: the kanji for hear and ask
聞 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means hear, ask. Below are its readings, 10 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
聞 is written in 14 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
聞 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 10 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ブン (bun)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 新聞しんぶん · shinbun | newspaper |
| 新聞社しんぶんしゃ · shinbunsha | newspaper company |
| 見聞けんぶん · kenbun | experience; knowledge |
モン (mon)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 前代未聞ぜんだいみもん · zendaimimon | unheard of |
| 聴聞ちょうもん · chōmon | (official) hearing |
きく (kiku)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 聞くきく · kiku | to listen; to ask |
| 聞き取りききとり · kikitori | listening (comprehension) |
| 聞き手ききて · kikite | listener |
| 人聞きひとぎき · hitogiki | how something sounds to others |
きこえる (kikoeru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 聞こえるきこえる · kikoeru | to be heard; can hear |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 毎朝、新聞を読みます。Maiasa, shinbun o yomimasu.I read the newspaper every morning.
- ちょっと聞いてもいいですか。Chotto kiite mo ii desu ka.Can I ask you something?
- 声がよく聞こえません。Koe ga yoku kikoemasen.I can't hear you well.
- 上司の話をよく聞いてください。Jōshi no hanashi o yoku kiite kudasai.Please listen carefully to your boss.
- こんなミスは前代未聞です。Konna misu wa zendaimimon desu.A mistake like this is unheard of.
- 日本語の聞き取りが苦手です。Nihongo no kikitori ga nigate desu.I'm not good at listening in Japanese.
Questions about 聞
How many strokes does 聞 have?
聞 is written in 14 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 聞?
The on readings are bun (ブン), mon (モン). The kun readings are kiku (きく), kikoeru (きこえる).
Does 聞く mean "to listen" or "to ask"?
Both. 聞く (kiku) means to listen or hear, and also to ask, as in 道を聞く (michi o kiku, to ask for directions).
What JLPT level is 聞?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Actions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 聞
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.