聞こえる・きこえる (koeru kikoeru)

Meaning & usage

聞こえる means a sound is audible or that something sounds in a particular way, used when describing what comes into hearing rather than active listening. The sound is the が subject, as in 音が聞こえる or 声が聞こえる, and the hearer can be added with に or には, as in 私には聞こえる. To describe impression, use an adverb or ように, as in おしとやかに聞こえる. It is intransitive so the sound takes が, never を, and it conjugates as a regular ru verb like 聞こえない and 聞こえた.

Example sentences 7

1. 何なにも聞きこえなかったよ。

   I didn't hear anything.

2. よく聞こえないのです。

   I can't hear very well.

3. ドアの開く音が聞こえた気がしたんだ。

   I thought I heard the door open.

4. 私は何も聞こえません。私は耳が聞こえないのです。

   I can't hear anything. I'm deaf.

5. 何か聞こえませんか。

   Can you hear anything?

6. どう言えば、おしとやかに聞こえる？

   How can I say things to sound graceful?

7. そちらの声は聞こえます。

   I can hear your voice.