耳(みみ)かき

みみかき
noun
ear pick; ear cleaning
tool
1. ear pick; ear scoop
A small tool, traditionally bamboo with a tiny spoon at one end, used to clean wax from the ears.
竹(たけ)の耳(みみ)かきを使(つか)っている。
I use a bamboo ear pick.
ドラッグストアで新(あたら)しい耳(みみ)かきを買(か)った。
I bought a new ear pick at the drugstore.
百円(ひゃくえん)ショップの耳(みみ)かきでも十分(じゅうぶん)使(つか)える。
Even an ear pick from a 100-yen shop works just fine.
2. ear cleaning; ear picking
The act of cleaning the ears, often done by another person as a form of intimate care.
母(はは)に耳(みみ)かきをしてもらった。
My mother cleaned my ears for me.
膝枕(ひざまくら)で耳(みみ)かきをしてもらうのは気持(きも)ちいい。
It feels great to have your ears cleaned while resting your head on someone's lap.
子供(こども)の耳(みみ)かきは無理(むり)にしないほうがいいと医者(いしゃ)に言(い)われた。
The doctor told me not to force ear cleaning on children.

耳(みみ)かき refers to both the tool and the act of cleaning ears. The kanji form 耳掻(みみか)き is sometimes used but the hiragana かき is more common.

In Japanese culture, having someone clean your ears (耳(みみ)かきをしてもらう) is considered a caring, intimate act, often done by a parent for a child or between romantic partners. The person receiving typically rests their head on the other's lap (膝枕(ひざまくら)).

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 綿棒(めんぼう) (cotton swab)
general
Added 2026.3.12 11:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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