1.
to hear about; to get wind of
To learn of something through hearing, often implying that the information was obtained indirectly or by chance rather than through a deliberate inquiry.
そのうわさを聞きつけた。
I got wind of that rumor.
近所の人が事故を聞きつけて集まってきた。
Neighbors gathered after hearing about the accident.
セールの情報を聞きつけて、朝から店の前に並んでいる人がいた。
There were people who had heard about the sale and were lined up in front of the store since morning.
聞きつける is a transitive ichidan verb meaning to catch word of something or learn about it through hearsay.
ASPECT (ている):
聞きつけている indicates the resulting state of having already heard the information.
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- 噂を聞きつける (hear about a rumor)
- 知らせを聞きつける (get wind of news)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- うわさを聞きつける (get wind of a rumor)
- 情報を聞きつける (hear some information)
- 騒ぎを聞きつける (hear a commotion)
The verb implies that the subject came to learn something without actively seeking it — the information reached them rather than them going out to find it. Compare with 聞き出す, which implies deliberately drawing out information.