1.
ear pick; ear scoop
A small tool, traditionally bamboo with a tiny spoon at one end, used to clean wax from the ears.
竹の耳かきを使っている。
I use a bamboo ear pick.
ドラッグストアで新しい耳かきを買った。
I bought a new ear pick at the drugstore.
百円ショップの耳かきでも十分使える。
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.
母に耳かきをしてもらった。
My mother cleaned my ears for me.
膝枕で耳かきをしてもらうのは気持ちいい。
It feels great to have your ears cleaned while resting your head on someone's lap.
子供の耳かきは無理にしないほうがいいと医者に言われた。
The doctor told me not to force ear cleaning on children.
耳かき refers to both the tool and the act of cleaning ears. The kanji form 耳掻き is sometimes used but the hiragana かき is more common.
In Japanese culture, having someone clean your ears (耳かきをしてもらう) 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).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 耳かきをする (to clean ears)
- 耳かきをしてもらう (to have one's ears cleaned)
- 竹の耳かき (bamboo ear pick)