聞(き)こえる

きこえる

verb (ichidan)

to be heard, to be audible

自動詞 intransitivesense

See also: 聞(き)く (hear, listen)

Conjugation

	Affirmative	Negative
Present	聞(き)こえる	聞(き)こえない
Present polite	聞(き)こえます	聞(き)こえません
Past	聞(き)こえた	聞(き)こえなかった
Past polite	聞(き)こえました	聞(き)こえませんでした
て form	聞(き)こえて	聞(き)こえなくて
ている present	聞(き)こえている	聞(き)こえていない
ている polite	聞(き)こえています	聞(き)こえていません
ている past	聞(き)こえていた	聞(き)こえていなかった
ている past polite	聞(き)こえていました	聞(き)こえていませんでした
Conditional ば	聞(き)こえれば	聞(き)こえなければ
Conditional たら	聞(き)こえたら	聞(き)こえなかったら
Volitional	聞(き)こえよう	—
Volitional polite	聞(き)こえましょう	—
Causative	聞(き)こえさせる	聞(き)こえさせない

1. to be heard, to be audible

For a sound to reach one's ears and be perceivable. The intransitive/potential form of hearing.

鳥(とり)の声(こえ)が聞(き)こえる。

I can hear birds singing.

が marks what is heard

隣(となり)の部屋(へや)から音楽(おんがく)が聞(き)こえてきた。

Music could be heard coming from the next room.

聞(き)こえてくる = come to be heard

電話(でんわ)の声(こえ)が小(ちい)さくてよく聞(き)こえなかった。

The voice on the phone was quiet and I couldn't hear it well.

遠(とお)くから太鼓(たいこ)の音(おと)が聞(き)こえてきて、お祭(まつ)りが始(はじ)まったのだと分(わ)かった。

I heard the sound of drums from far away and knew the festival had started.

2. to sound like, to seem

To give the impression of a certain quality when heard.

それは言(い)い訳(わけ)に聞(き)こえる。

That sounds like an excuse.

〜に聞(き)こえる = sound like ~

彼(かれ)の話(はなし)は冗談(じょうだん)に聞(き)こえたが、本気(ほんき)だった。

His story sounded like a joke, but he was serious.

彼女(かのじょ)の言葉(ことば)は冷(つめ)たく聞(き)こえたが、本当(ほんとう)は心配(しんぱい)していたのだ。

Her words sounded cold, but she was actually worried.

Transitivity: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). This is the spontaneous/potential form related to 聞(き)く (to hear/listen). Pattern: Xが聞(き)こえる (X can be heard).

Aspect: ている indicates ongoing state. 聞(き)こえている = 'can be heard' (continuous).

Common patterns

声(こえ)が聞(き)こえる (a voice can be heard)
音(おと)が聞(き)こえる (a sound can be heard)
よく聞(き)こえない (can't hear well)
聞(き)こえてくる (come to be heard, start hearing)
〜に聞(き)こえる (sound like ~)

Similar words

聞(き)く: active listening/asking (transitive)
聞(き)こえる: passive hearing, audibility (intransitive)

Related pair: 見(み)る → 見(み)える (see → be visible) follows the same pattern.

general

Added 2026.1.8 21:37 · Revised 2026.10.1 17:10

01000/01229_kikoeru