Readings: ジ (Onyomi), みみ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Ear
The kanji 耳 is a pictograph of an ear, showing its clear connection to the meaning.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 耳 is drawn with 6 strokes. It starts with the vertical stroke on the left, followed by the top horizontal stroke and the two inner horizontal strokes, then the closing vertical stroke, and finally the bottom horizontal stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 耳 (みみへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 1 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ジ (ji)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- みみ (mimi)
Common Words Using 耳
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 耳鼻科 | じびか | ENT clinic, otolaryngology |
| 中耳炎 | ちゅうじえん | middle ear inflammation |
| 外耳 | がいじ | outer ear |
| 内耳 | ないじ | inner ear |
| 耳管 | じかん | Eustachian tube |
| 耳朶 | じだ | earlobe |
| 耳垢 | じこう | earwax (less common onyomi reading) |
| 耳目 | じもく | eyes and ears; public attention |
| 耳針 | じしん | ear acupuncture |
| 耳底 | じてい | bottom of the ear (anatomical) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 耳 | みみ | ear |
| 耳鳴り | みみなり | ringing in the ears, tinnitus |
| 耳元 | みみもと | close to the ear |
| 耳打ち | みみうち | whispering into someone’s ear |
| 耳垢 | みみあか | earwax |
| 耳慣れる | みみなれる | to get accustomed to hearing |
| 耳が早い | みみがはやい | quick to hear, quick to catch wind of something |
| 耳障り | みみざわり | unpleasant to the ear |
| 耳が遠い | みみがとおい | hard of hearing |
| 耳学問 | みみがくもん | superficial knowledge, smattering of knowledge |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼女は耳が良いので、小さな音も聞き取れる。
Kana: かのじょはみみがいいので、ちいさなおともききとれる。
Romaji: Kanojo wa mimi ga ii node, chiisana oto mo kikitomeru.
English: She has good hearing, so she can catch even small sounds.
Japanese: 医者は中耳炎だと言いました。
Kana: いしゃはちゅうじえんだといいました。
Romaji: Isha wa chūjien da to iimashita.
English: The doctor said it was a middle ear infection.
Japanese: 母はいつも私の耳元で囁きます。
Kana: はははいつもわたしのまみもとでささやきます。
Romaji: Haha wa itsumo watashi no mimimoto de sasayakimasu.
English: My mother always whispers in my ear.
Japanese: その話は耳に入れておいてください。
Kana: そのはなしはみみにいれておいてください。
Romaji: Sono hanashi wa mimi ni irete oite kudasai.
English: Please keep that in mind.
Japanese: 耳を澄まして鳥の声を聞いた。
Kana: みみをすましてとりのこえをきいた。
Romaji: Mimi o sumashite tori no koe o kiita.
English: I listened intently to the birds’ voices.
Japanese: 彼のジョークは耳障りだった。
Kana: かれのジョークはみみざわりだった。
Romaji: Kare no jōku wa mimizawari datta.
English: His joke was unpleasant to the ear.
Japanese: 同じ忠告を毎日聞いて、耳にタコができた。
Kana: おなじちゅうこくをまいにちきいて、みみにタコができた。
Romaji: Onaji chūkoku o mainichi kiite, mimi ni tako ga dekita.
English: I’ve heard the same advice every day, and I’m tired of it.
Japanese: 祖父は少し耳が遠い。
Kana: そふはすこしみみがとおい。
Romaji: Sofu wa sukoshi mimi ga tooi.
English: My grandfather is a little hard of hearing.
Japanese: 彼女は耳が早いので、すぐにその噂を知った。
Kana: かのじょはみみがはやいので、すぐそのうわさをしった。
Romaji: Kanojo wa mimi ga hayai node, sugu ni sono uwasa o shitta.
English: She’s quick to hear things, so she immediately knew the rumor.
Japanese: 耳鼻科で耳垢を取ってもらいました。
Kana: じびかでみみあかをとってもらいました。
Romaji: Jibika de mimiaka o totte moraimashita.
English: I had my earwax removed at the ENT clinic.
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