1.
to catch, to make out
To manage to hear and understand what is being said, especially when it is difficult to hear.
うまく聞き取れない。
I can't make it out clearly.
電話の声が小さくて聞き取れなかった。
The voice on the phone was too quiet and I couldn't make it out.
早口で話されると聞き取りにくい。
When someone speaks quickly, it's hard to catch what they're saying.
騒がしくて、名前が聞き取れなかった。
It was too noisy and I couldn't catch the name.
日本語のニュースを聞き取れるようになりたい。
I want to become able to understand Japanese news by listening.
2.
to interview, to take a statement
To gather information by asking questions and listening to responses (formal/official context).
警察が目撃者から話を聞き取った。
The police took a statement from the witness.
聞き取り調査を行った。
An interview survey was conducted.
住民から意見を聞き取った。
Opinions were gathered from the residents.
被害者から状況を聞き取る必要がある。
We need to take a statement from the victim about the situation.
現場の担当者から詳しく聞き取りを行った。
A detailed interview was conducted with the person in charge at the scene.
聞き取る is a transitive verb (他動詞) meaning to hear and catch what is said.
COMPOUND STRUCTURE:
- 聞く (to hear) + 取る (to take) → to take in what one hears
ASPECT (ている):
聞き取っている indicates an ongoing process of listening and understanding.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 言葉を聞き取る (catch someone's words)
- うまく聞き取れない (can't make out clearly)
- 聞き取り調査 (interview survey)
- 聞き取りテスト (listening comprehension test)
RELATED NOUN:
- 聞き取り: listening comprehension; interview/hearing
LANGUAGE LEARNING:
Often used in the context of language learning, referring to listening comprehension skills.
[Register: Neutral]