Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

聞こえよがし (きこえよがし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

聞きこえよがし

き

こ

え

よ

が

し

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

deliberately loud insult; saying something negative so the target overhears

Describes the act of bad-mouthing someone within earshot, intending for them to hear the insult or sarcasm. Often used adverbially as 聞こえよがしに.

彼かの女じょは聞きこえよがしに悪わる口くちを言いった。
She bad-mouthed him deliberately loud enough for him to hear.
聞きこえよがしの嫌いや味みを言いうのはやめて

ください

。

Please stop making sarcastic remarks that are clearly meant to be overheard.

Written forms

聞きこえよがしUsage85%
Standard kanji spelling.
聞きこえよがしUsage10%
Variant with 聞え instead of 聞こえ; less common but still encountered.
きこえよがしUsage5%

Kanji

聞hear, ask, listen

Similar words

当あてこすり
当てこすり is a more general indirect insult or snide remark, not necessarily intended to be overheard by the target. 聞こえよがし specifically emphasizes that the speaker wants the target to hear it.

Etymology

Compound of 聞こえ (the 連用形 of 聞こえる, 'to be audible') + よがし (from 良し, meaning 'good' or 'desirable', in an old-fashioned construction). Literally 'as if being audible is good', i.e., deliberately making something audible.