耳みみを傾かたむける

み

を

か

た

む

け

る

JLPTN2

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

listen carefully; lend an ear

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression meaning to pay close attention to what is being said, often with a nuance of leaning in or focusing one's hearing. Used for both literal listening and figurative attention.

彼かれの話はなしに耳みみを傾かたむけた。
I listened carefully to his story.
もっと若わか

者もの

の

声こえ

に

耳みみ

を

傾かたむ

ける

べき

だ

。

We should listen more to the voices of young people.

Written forms

耳みみを傾かたむける
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
耳みみをかたむける
Kana spelling of the verb part; sometimes used for readability or emphasis.

Kanji

耳ear
傾lean, incline, tilt

Similar words

聞きく
聞く is the general verb for 'to hear' or 'to listen'. 耳を傾ける implies a more deliberate, attentive act of listening, often with a physical or metaphorical leaning in.
耳みみを澄すます
耳を澄ます also means 'to listen carefully', but often emphasizes straining to hear faint or distant sounds, while 耳を傾ける can be used for both sounds and abstract attention (e.g., to opinions).

Etymology

Literally 'to incline one's ear toward something'. The expression figuratively extends the physical act of leaning in to hear better to the idea of paying close attention.