What does 耳 mean in Japanese?
耳 means “ear” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 耳 (ear), 耳鼻科 (ear, nose, and throat clinic), and 耳元 (near the ear).
For learners, the key is to study 耳 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: ジ (ji)
Kun’yomi: みみ (mimi)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 耳 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ear |
| Stroke Count | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
耳 is not limited to one English translation. In 耳 (みみ), it means ear; in 耳鼻科 (じびか), it points to ear, nose, and throat clinic; and in 耳元 (みみもと), it is used for near the ear. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 耳（みみ / mimi） — ear
- 耳鼻科（じびか / jibika） — ear, nose, and throat clinic
- 耳元（みみもと / mimimoto） — near the ear
- 早耳（はやみみ / hayamimi） — quick to hear news
- 耳学問（みみがくもん / mimigakumon） — knowledge by hearsay
- 中耳（ちゅうじ / chūji） — middle ear
Example Sentences
-
耳が少し痛いです。
みみがすこしいたいです。 / Mimi ga sukoshi itai desu.
My ear hurts a little.
-
耳鼻科で診てもらいました。
じびかでみてもらいました。 / Jibika de mite moraimashita.
I had an ear, nose, and throat doctor examine me.
-
先生の声が耳元で聞こえました。
せんせいのこえがみみもとできこえました。 / Sensei no koe ga mimimoto de kikoemashita.
I heard the teacher’s voice near my ear.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 耳 (みみ / mimi) because it keeps the core meaning of 耳 clear. Then add 耳鼻科 and 耳元 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 耳 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
耳 means “ear” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 耳, 耳鼻科, and 耳元.