1.
hearing something for the first time; news to someone
The experience of hearing a piece of information for the very first time. Used as a response to express that something is new and surprising to the listener.
それは初耳だ。
That's news to me.
彼が転職したなんて初耳だよ。
I had no idea he changed jobs — that's the first I've heard of it.
そんな規則があるとは初耳で、驚いてしまった。
I was surprised — I had never heard that such a rule existed.
A compound of 初 (first) and 耳 (ear). Literally 'first ear' — the first time one's ears encounter the information.
Almost always used in the pattern ～は初耳だ. Very natural in conversation as a surprised response to unexpected news.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- それは初耳だ (That's news to me)
- ～なんて初耳だ (I had no idea that...)
- 初耳の話 (a story one hasn't heard before)
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 初めて聞いた is a more literal way to say 'I heard it for the first time'
- 初耳 is more concise and conversational