1.
to hear; to happen to hear; to come to one's ears
To hear something, often incidentally or without actively trying. Implies information reaching you through conversation, rumor, or media rather than direct experience.
そのニュースを耳にした。
I heard that news.
最近よく耳にする言葉だ。
It's a word I've been hearing a lot lately.
彼が転職するという話を耳にして驚いた。
I was surprised to hear that he is changing jobs.
USAGE:
A set expression that implies hearing something incidentally or indirectly, rather than being told directly. Slightly more literary or polished than simply 聞く. Often used when the information is surprising, noteworthy, or comes through informal channels.
PATTERNS:
- 〜を耳にする (to hear ~)
- 〜という話を耳にする (to hear a story that ~)
- よく耳にする (to hear often)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 聞く: to hear, to listen — general term, more direct
- 耳に入る: to reach one's ears — similar but more passive, the information comes to you
- 小耳に挟む: to overhear — specifically catching something by chance