Onyomi: ジ · Kunyomi: みみ · Meanings: ear
Kanji for ear
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The kanji 耳 is a simple pictograph of a human ear. In ancient times, it showed the shape of an ear with its folds and curves. It was used to represent hearing, listening, and things related to the ear. Over time, it became the standard kanji for “ear” and is also used as a radical in other kanji related to listening or sound.
A pictograph of a human ear — 耳 means ear and anything related to hearing or listening.
This kanji declares: it is an ear — 耳 means ear. Imagine seeing a real ear with all its curves and folds. Every time you see 耳, think of listening carefully with your own ear.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耳 | みみ | ear | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 耳元 | みみもと | close to the ear | common Noun |
| 耳障り | みみざわり | hard (on the ears), offensive (to the ear), rasping, rough, harsh, grating, jarring, cacophonous | common Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 耳より | みみより | welcome (news), inviting, encouraging, tempting, hopeful | common Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 耳打ち | みみうち | whispering into a person's ear | Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 耳鳴り | みみなり | tinnitus, ringing in the ears | Noun |
| 耳垢 | みみあか | earwax, cerumen | Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 耳鼻科 | じびか | otolaryngology, ear, nose, and throat department | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 耳が遠い | みみがとおい | poor hearing | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), I-adjective (keiyoushi) |
| 耳垂れ | みみだれ | ear discharge | Noun |