聴: the kanji for listen
聴 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means listen. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
聴 is written in 17 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
聴 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
チョウ (chou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 聴覚ちょうかく · chōkaku | sense of hearing |
| 視聴しちょう · shichō | viewing and listening |
| 傍聴ぼうちょう · bōchō | hearing; attending (as an observer) |
きく (kiku)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 聴くきく · kiku | to listen |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 毎晩クラシック音楽を聴いている。Maiban kurashikku ongaku o kiite iru.I listen to classical music every night.
- 裁判を傍聴した。Saiban o bōchō shita.I observed a trial.
- 犬は聴覚がとても鋭い。Inu wa chōkaku ga totemo surudoi.Dogs have a very keen sense of hearing.
- この番組は視聴率が高い。Kono bangumi wa shichōritsu ga takai.This program has high ratings.
- 相手の話をよく聴くことが大切だ。Aite no hanashi o yoku kiku koto ga taisetsu da.It is important to listen carefully to the other person.
Questions about 聴
How many strokes does 聴 have?
聴 is written in 17 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 聴?
The on readings are chou (チョウ). The kun readings are kiku (きく).
What JLPT level is 聴?
N1. 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 N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Movement and 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 聴
- 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.