耳(みみ)に付(つ)く

みみにつく
expression
to stick in one's ears; to get on one's nerves (a sound)
cognition
1. to linger in one's ears; to be catchy
A sound, melody, or phrase that stays in one's mind after hearing it, whether pleasantly or not.
あのメロディーが耳(みみ)に付(つ)く。
That melody sticks in my ears.
CMの曲(きょく)が耳(みみ)に付(つ)いて離(はな)れない。
The commercial jingle is stuck in my head and won't go away.
先生(せんせい)の言葉(ことば)がずっと耳(みみ)に付(つ)いている。
My teacher's words have stayed with me.
2. to get on one's nerves; to be annoying to hear
A sound, voice, or repeated phrase that becomes irritating through repetition or unpleasantness.
隣(となり)の工事(こうじ)の音(おと)が耳(みみ)に付(つ)く。
The construction noise next door is grating on my ears.
彼(かれ)の口癖(くちぐせ)がだんだん耳(みみ)に付(つ)くようになった。
His pet phrase gradually started getting on my nerves.
同(おな)じことを何度(なんど)も言(い)われると耳(みみ)に付(つ)く。
Being told the same thing over and over gets annoying.

The meaning of 耳(みみ)に付(つ)く depends on context. When something catchy or memorable is the subject, it means the sound lingers (sense 1). When something unpleasant or repetitive is the subject, it means the sound is irritating (sense 2).

Related words

Related Words

Related: 耳障(みみざわ)り (unpleasant to the ear)
Related: 耳(みみ)に残(のこ)る (to remain in one's ears (neutral…)
general
Added 2026.3.22 9:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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