Translation guide
How to get someone's attention or tell them to listen in Japanese, depending on politeness, urgency, and relationship.
Listen! (casual)
Listen! (polite)
You want someone to pay attention to what you're about to say, or to listen carefully.
Casual way to say 'listen' to friends, family, or those of equal/lower status. Literally 'listen' (imperative form of 聞く).
Hey, listen!
Listen up a sec.
Polite request meaning 'please listen'. Use with strangers, superiors, or in formal situations.
Excuse me, please listen for a moment.
Everyone, please listen to this.
Interjection meaning 'hey', 'excuse me', or 'listen' when trying to get someone's attention. Very common in casual speech.
Hey, are you listening?
Hey, hey! (Listen!)
Very polite/humble form of 'please listen'. Used in formal announcements, speeches, or customer service.
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.
Hey, listen! (rough)
Shut up and listen!
Firm but not overly aggressive command. Often used by parents, teachers, or in instructions.
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.
Um, excuse me. (getting attention politely)