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Kotomora

耳

ear

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 1FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジ

Kun'yomi

  • みみ

Nanori

  • がみ

Meaning

耳 centers on the physical ear and its function of hearing.

Most common words using 耳

20 of 212
  • 耳みみ
    N5

    ear

  • 初耳はつみみ
    N1

    something heard for the first time; hearing something for the first time

  • 耳元みみもと
    N1

    close to the ear

  • 牛耳るぎゅうじる

    to control; to take the lead in; to have under one's thumb

  • 耳鳴りみみなり

    tinnitus; ringing in the ears

  • 耳かきみみかき

    earpick

  • 耳鼻じび

    nose and ears

  • 空耳そらみみ

    mishearing

  • 耳障りみみざわり
    N1

    hard (on the ears); offensive (to the ear); rasping; rough; harsh; grating; jarring; cacophonous

  • 耳鼻咽喉科じびいんこうか

    otorhinolaryngology; otolaryngology; ear, nose and throat department

  • 内耳ないじ

    inner ear

  • 片耳かたみみ

    one ear

  • 耳たぶみみたぶ

    earlobe

  • 聞き耳ききみみ

    straining one's ears

  • 木耳きくらげ

    cloud ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae); wood ear mushroom; Jew's ear mushroom

  • 寝耳ねみみ

    something heard while sleeping

  • 耳打ちみみうち

    whispering into a person's ear

  • 耳目じもく

    eyes and ears; seeing and hearing

  • 中耳炎ちゅうじえん

    otitis media; middle-ear infection

  • 耳飾りみみかざり

    earring

Explore all words using 耳 →

Study

Etymology

耳 is a pictograph of an ear, with the modern form preserving the outer shape and inner details of the ear.

Meaning mnemonic

The shape of 耳 looks like an ear: the outer frame is the ear's outline, and the inner strokes are the folds and canal. See it as an ear.

Reading mnemonic

For ジ, imagine a giant ear listening to jazz music: jazz -> ジ, and the ear hears every note.