1.
to whisper; to speak in a low voice
Speaking softly so only nearby listeners can hear.
彼女は私の耳に囁いた。
She whispered in my ear.
授業中に囁いてはいけません。
You must not whisper during class.
[Note: ては + いけない = prohibition]
彼は「大丈夫」と小さな声で囁いた。
He whispered "It's okay" in a small voice.
2.
to murmur; to spread rumors
Quietly spreading information or speculation, often used in passive.
二人の関係について、いろいろと囁かれている。
Various things are being whispered about their relationship.
会社が倒産するのではないかと囁かれている。
It is rumored that the company might go bankrupt.
彼の成功の裏には何かあると囁かれていた。
It was whispered that there was something behind his success.
囁く is a transitive verb (他動詞).
ASPECT ({ている}):
The ている form indicates ongoing action (何かを囁いている = 'is whispering something').
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- [content]を囁く (whisper ~)
- [person]に囁く (whisper to ~)
- 耳に囁く (whisper in someone's ear)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 耳元で囁く (whisper close to the ear)
- 愛を囁く (whisper words of love)
- 〜と囁かれている (it is rumored that ~)
The passive form 囁かれる is commonly used when talking about rumors or speculation.