Translation guide
Expressing that someone does not listen, heed, or pay attention. Japanese uses different verbs and constructions depending on whether you mean 'not hearing', 'ignoring', 'disobeying', or 'not heeding advice'.
To say someone does not listen in the sense of not paying attention or ignoring what is said.
Literally 'does not listen to talk'. The most common way to say someone doesn't listen to what you say.
彼は私の話を聞かない。
He doesn't listen to me.
To ignore, disregard. Stronger than just not listening; implies intentionally ignoring someone.
彼女は私の忠告を無視した。
She ignored my advice.
Idiom: 'does not have an ear to listen'. Means someone refuses to listen or is unreceptive.
彼は人の意見に聞く耳を持たない。
He doesn't listen to other people's opinions.
To say someone does not listen in the sense of not obeying or following what they are told.
Literally 'does not listen to what is said'. Used for children, subordinates, etc., who don't do as they are told.
子供が言うことを聞かない。
The child doesn't listen (doesn't do as told).
To not obey, not comply. More formal and direct than 言うことを聞かない.
彼は規則に従わない。
He doesn't follow the rules.
To say someone does not listen to advice, warnings, or suggestions.
Specifically for not listening to advice or warnings.
彼は医者の忠告を聞かない。
He doesn't listen to the doctor's advice.
Idiom: 'does not lend an ear'. Refusing to listen to someone's request or advice.
彼は私の頼みに耳を貸さなかった。
He wouldn't listen to my request.
To say someone does not listen in the sense of not hearing a sound or not listening to something specific like music.
Intransitive: 'is not audible, cannot hear'. Use this when the sound doesn't reach the ears, not for ignoring.
後ろの席だと先生の声が聞こえない。
If you're in the back seat, you can't hear the teacher's voice.
Transitive: 'do not listen to'. Used for not listening to music, radio, etc. Can also mean 'do not ask'.
彼はあまり音楽を聞かない。
He doesn't listen to music much.
聞かない (kikanai) is transitive and means 'do not listen' by choice. 聞こえない (kikoenai) is intransitive and means 'cannot hear' due to physical conditions. Use 聞こえない when the sound doesn't reach you.
彼の言うことを聞かない。
I don't listen to what he says.
彼の声が聞こえない。
I can't hear his voice.
Avoid directly translating 'to not listen to' as に聞かない (ni kikanai). The particle に is not used with 聞く for the target of listening. Use を for the thing listened to, or use phrases like 話を聞かない, 言うことを聞かない.
✕ 彼に聞かない。
(Incorrect for 'not listen to him')
○ 彼の話を聞かない。
Don't listen to what he says.