聞(き)こえる

きこえる
verb (ichidan)
to be heard, to be audible
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 ~)

CONTRAST:

  • 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.

Related Words

Pair verb: 見(み)る (intransitive)
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:37 · Revised 2026.3.7 11:58
01000/01229_kikoeru