聞 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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What does 聞 mean in Japanese?

聞 means to hear, to listen, or to ask in Japanese. It is the kanji in 聞く (kiku), a single verb that covers both listening to music and asking a question, and in 新聞 (shinbun, newspaper).

聞 has two main readings. Read it as きく (kiku) in the verb 聞く, meaning ‘to hear’ or ‘to ask,’ and as ブン (bun) in 新聞 (shinbun, newspaper). The character shows 耳 (ear) inside a gate (門), which is often used as a memory aid: an ear at the gate, listening.

Reading

On’yomi: ブン (bun), モン (mon)

Kun’yomi: き-く (ki-ku), き-こえる (ki-koeru)

Basic Information

Kanji 聞
Meaning hear, listen, ask
Stroke Count 14
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

聞く does double duty: it means to listen (音楽を聞く, to listen to music) and to ask (道を聞く, to ask for directions), with context deciding which. 聞こえる is different again: it describes what is audible on its own, without effort. In compounds read as ブン, 聞 appears in 新聞 (newspaper), literally ‘new’ plus ‘hear,’ which helps explain its connection to news.

Common Words

  • 聞く（きく / kiku） — to listen, to hear, to ask
  • 聞こえる（きこえる / kikoeru） — to be audible, to be heard
  • 新聞（しんぶん / shinbun） — newspaper
  • 聞き取り（ききとり / kikitori） — listening comprehension
  • 聞き返す（ききかえす / kikikaesu） — to ask someone to repeat
  • 聞き上手（ききじょうず / kikijouzu） — good listener

Example Sentences

  • 毎朝、音楽を聞きます。

    まいあさ、おんがくをききます。 / Maiasa, ongaku o kikimasu.

    I listen to music every morning.

  • 駅員に道を聞きました。

    えきいんにみちをききました。 / Ekiin ni michi o kikimashita.

    I asked the station attendant for directions.

  • 電話の声がよく聞こえません。

    でんわのこえがよくきこえません。 / Denwa no koe ga yoku kikoemasen.

    I can’t hear the voice on the phone well.

Related Kanji

  • 耳

    — 耳 means ear and sits inside 聞; the image of an ear listening at a gate makes this kanji one of the easiest to remember.

  • 新

    — 新 means new, and 新聞 (newspaper) combines ‘new’ with ‘hear’; the pair shows how 聞 extends from hearing to news.

  • 音

    — 音 means sound, the natural object of hearing; 音楽を聞く (to listen to music) joins the two in one of the most common sentences learners build.

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

Remember that 聞く covers both ‘listen’ and ‘ask’; learners are often surprised that asking a question uses the hearing kanji. 聞こえますか (can you hear me?) is the standard check in online calls. 聞き取り (listening comprehension) is what JLPT listening sections test, and 聞き返す (to ask someone to repeat) pairs naturally with すみません、もう一度 (excuse me, one more time).

Summary

聞 means to hear, listen, or ask, covering the essential verb 聞く, the perception verb 聞こえる, and the everyday word 新聞.