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垣間聞く (かいまきく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
get wind of ; overhear ; catch a rumor
colloquial rare term
Rare colloquial expression meaning to accidentally or indirectly hear something, often a secret or rumor. Related to 垣間見る (かいまみる, 'to catch a glimpse').
See also: 垣間見る (かいまみる)
き
い
た
。
I got wind of his retirement.
Written forms 垣間聞かいまき く
Kanji spelling; rare and literary. The compound 垣間 (かいま) means 'through a crack' or 'peeping', and 聞く is 'to hear'.
かいま 聞き く
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; also rare.
Similar words 垣間見かいまみ る Means 'to catch a glimpse' or 'to peek at'; 垣間聞く is the auditory counterpart, meaning 'to overhear' or 'to get wind of'.
小こ 耳みみ に 挟はさ む A more common expression for 'to overhear' or 'to catch a bit of information'; 垣間聞く is rarer and more literary.
Etymology Compound of 垣間 (かいま, 'through a crack', 'peeping') and 聞く (きく, 'to hear'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it parallels 垣間見る (かいまみる, 'to catch a glimpse').
