そばだてる

そ

ば

だ

て

る

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, transitive verb

strain (one's ears, eyes); prick up (one's ears)

usually written using kana alone

Used almost exclusively in the set phrase 耳をそばだてる (to prick up one's ears, to listen carefully). The expression 目をそばだてる (to strain one's eyes) is much less common.

彼かれは隣となりの部屋へやの物もの音おとに耳みみをそばだてた。
He strained his ears at the sound from the next room.

暗くら闇やみの中なかで目めをそばだてて何なにかを見みようとした。

In the darkness, I strained my eyes trying to see something.

Written forms

そばだてるUsage93%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 欹てる, 攲てる, 側てる are rare and not commonly used.
欹そばだてるUsage7%
Rare kanji form; the character 欹 is not in common use.
攲そばだてる
Rare kanji form; the character 攲 is not in common use.
側そばだてる
Rare kanji form; 側 is normally read がわ or そば, and this spelling is not standard.

Kanji

欹prick up (one's ears)
攲up, uneven
側side, lean, oppose

Similar words

耳みみを澄すます
耳を澄ます also means 'to listen carefully,' but it emphasizes quieting oneself to hear faint sounds, while 耳をそばだてる suggests a more active, alert straining of the ears, often in response to a sudden sound.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to そば (side) and 立てる (to raise), suggesting 'to raise to the side,' but this is speculative.