also: きくみみをもたない · きくみみをもたん
expression, noun-modifying (irregular)
turn a deaf ear to; refuse to listen; not heed
Idiomatic expression meaning to deliberately ignore what someone says; often used when someone stubbornly refuses to accept advice or criticism. The ぬ ending is literary/formal; the modern equivalent is 聞く耳を持たない.
See also: 聞く耳を持たない
彼は忠告に聞く耳を持たなかった。
He turned a deaf ear to the advice.
上司は部下の意見に聞く耳を持たぬ態度だった。
The boss had an attitude of not listening to his subordinates' opinions.
Literally 'not have an ear to listen'. The phrase uses the classical negative auxiliary ぬ attached to the verb 持つ. It is a set expression meaning to refuse to listen.