mind and ears; listening with the heart
Figurative expression for attentive, empathetic listening that engages both intellect and emotion. Often used in spiritual or self-help contexts.
The counselor listened with an open heart and mind.
Only with reading しんじ
Anatomical term for the ear-shaped appendage of each atrium of the heart.
Only with reading しんじ
Anatomical term for either of the two upper chambers of the heart. Often used interchangeably with 心房, but 心耳 can specifically emphasize the auricular appendage.
See also: 心房
A blood clot can form in the auricle.
There is a valve between the atrium and the ventricle.
Standard kanji form for both the figurative and anatomical senses.
The kanji 心 (heart/mind) and 耳 (ear) combine to suggest 'listening with the heart' in the figurative sense, and the ear-like shape of the cardiac auricle in the anatomical sense. The reading しんじ is the standard on'yomi; しんに is a less common variant.