noun
audibility; clarity of hearing; reception
Refers to how well a sound can be heard, including radio/TV reception. Often used in phrases like 聞こえがいい/悪い.
このラジオは山の中でも聞こえがいい。
This radio has good reception even in the mountains.
後ろの席だと先生の声の聞こえが悪い。
From the back seats, the teacher's voice is hard to hear clearly.
noun
How one is spoken of by others; public standing. Often used in set expressions like 聞こえが高い (high reputation) or 聞こえが悪い (bad reputation).
彼は地域で聞こえの高い医者だ。
He is a highly reputed doctor in the community.
そんなことをすると会社の聞こえが悪くなる。
Doing that will give the company a bad name.
noun
The impression something gives off, especially in terms of how it sounds to others. Overlaps with reputation but focuses on the perceived quality or respectability of a thing or statement.
その言い訳はどうも聞こえがよくない。
That excuse doesn't sound very good.
肩書きだけでも聞こえのいい部署に移りたがる。
He wants to move to a department that at least sounds respectable by title.
noun
sonority
Linguistics term for the relative loudness or carrying power of speech sounds.
母音は子音より聞こえが大きいとされる。
Vowels are said to have greater sonority than consonants.
Derived from the verb 聞こえる (to be heard). The noun form 聞こえ nominalizes the state of being audible, which extended to how one is heard of (reputation) and how something sounds (impression).