Translation guide
How to get someone's attention or tell them to listen in Japanese, depending on politeness, urgency, and relationship.
You want someone to pay attention to what you're about to say, or to listen carefully.
Polite request meaning 'please listen'. Use with strangers, superiors, or in formal situations.
すみません、ちょっと聞いてください。
Excuse me, please listen for a moment.
皆さん、こちらを聞いてください。
Everyone, please listen to this.
Interjection meaning 'hey', 'excuse me', or 'listen' when trying to get someone's attention. Very common in casual speech.
ちょっと、聞いてる？
Hey, are you listening?
ちょっと、ちょっと！
Hey, hey! (Listen!)
Very polite/humble form of 'please listen'. Used in formal announcements, speeches, or customer service.
ご注意事項をお聞きください。
Please listen to the important points.
You need someone to listen immediately, often with a sense of urgency or authority.
Strong, blunt imperative. Used by superiors, in emergencies, or in rough male speech. Can sound aggressive.
Can be rude if used inappropriately. Avoid with superiors or strangers.
Firm but not overly aggressive command. Often used by parents, teachers, or in instructions.
ちゃんと聞きなさい。
Listen properly.
In English, 'listen!' can be a filler or attention-getter. In Japanese, directly saying 聞いて every time can sound unnatural. Often, a simple あのう (excuse me) or ねえ (hey) is more appropriate.
あのう、すみません。
Um, excuse me. (getting attention politely)