耳(みみ)を塞(ふさ)ぐ

みみをふさぐ
expression
to cover one's ears; to refuse to listen
actioncommunication
1. to cover one's ears; to block one's ears
To physically cover or plug one's ears to block out noise.
大(おお)きな音(おと)に耳(みみ)を塞(ふさ)いだ。
I covered my ears against the loud noise.
子(こ)どもたちは雷(かみなり)の音(おと)に怖(こわ)がって耳(みみ)を塞(ふさ)いだ。
The children were scared of the thunder and covered their ears.
花火(はなび)の爆発音(ばくはつおん)がすごくて、思(おも)わず耳(みみ)を塞(ふさ)いだ。
The fireworks were so loud that I instinctively covered my ears.
2. to refuse to listen; to turn a deaf ear
To deliberately ignore or refuse to hear information, criticism, or advice. A figurative use meaning to close oneself off from unwanted input.
批判(ひはん)に耳(みみ)を塞(ふさ)ぐ。
To turn a deaf ear to criticism.
都合(つごう)の悪(わる)い話(はなし)に耳(みみ)を塞(ふさ)いではいけない。
You must not refuse to listen to inconvenient truths.
周囲(しゅうい)の忠告(ちゅうこく)に耳(みみ)を塞(ふさ)ぎ続(つづ)けた結果(けっか)、大(おお)きな失敗(しっぱい)をした。
As a result of constantly ignoring the advice of those around him, he made a big mistake.

Usage

Sense 1 is the literal, physical action of covering one's ears. Sense 2 is figurative, meaning to deliberately avoid hearing something unpleasant. The figurative use is common in discussions about willful ignorance or avoidance of criticism.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 耳(みみ)を傾(かたむ)ける (to lend an ear, to listen)
general
Added 2026.3.17 15:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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