1.
listener; the role of listening
A person who takes on the role of listening in a conversation, or the act of serving as the listener rather than the speaker.
今日は聞き役に徹した。
Today I devoted myself to being the listener.
彼はいつも聞き役に回るタイプだ。
He's the type who always ends up being the listener.
いい聞き役になることが、信頼関係を築く第一歩だ。
Being a good listener is the first step in building a relationship of trust.
A compound noun from 聞く (to listen) + 役 (role). Refers to the person who primarily listens in a conversation, or the act of taking on that role. In Japanese communication, being a good 聞き役 is considered an important social skill.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 聞き役に徹する — to devote oneself to listening
- 聞き役に回る — to take on the role of listener
- いい聞き役 — a good listener
- 聞き役になる — to become the listener
RELATED TERMS:
- 話し役 — the speaker role; the counterpart to 聞き役
- 相槌 — conversational back-channeling; a key skill for being a good 聞き役