1.
listener; audience member
A person who listens, especially to a story, speech, or conversation. Emphasizes the receiving role in communication.
良い聞き手になる。
To become a good listener.
彼女は聞き手の心をつかむのが上手だ。
She is skilled at capturing the hearts of her listeners.
話は聞き手によって印象が変わる。
The impression a story makes changes depending on the listener.
2.
interviewer; person asking questions
The person conducting an interview or asking questions in a dialogue, as opposed to the person being interviewed.
聞き手がうまく質問した。
The interviewer asked skillful questions.
聞き手の力量でインタビューの質が決まる。
The quality of an interview depends on the interviewer's skill.
今回の対談では、有名な作家が聞き手を務めた。
In this conversation, a famous author served as the interviewer.
Formed from 聞く (to listen) + 手 (person/doer), following the common pattern where 手 indicates the person performing the action.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 良い聞き手 — good listener
- 聞き手を務める — to serve as interviewer
- 聞き手の立場 — the listener's perspective
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 話し手 — speaker (the opposite role)
- 利き手 — dominant hand (homophone with different kanji)
- 読み手 — reader (same 手 pattern)