BackGrammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 11
Structure of 聞(き)こえる:
Noun + が + 聞こえる
［い］Adjective［く］+ 聞こえる
［な］Adjective + に + 聞こえる
Noun + に + 聞こえる
Details about 聞(き)こえる:
聞こえる is a verb that is often used to describe things that can be heard, or the way in which something is heard. Because of this, the most common translations of this verb are 'to be audible', or 'to sound like (A)'. 聞こえる is an intransitive verb, and literally means 'to give off sound'.
When using 聞こえる, (A) will always be followed by が. (A) is considered to be the 'source' of the sound (a noun). However, the 'way that something sounds' will be marked adverbially. This means that an い-Adjective will be changed to its く form, and な-Adjectives/nouns will be followed by に.
When using 聞こえる, (A) will always be followed by が. (A) is considered to be the 'source' of the sound (a noun). However, the 'way that something sounds' will be marked adverbially. This means that an い-Adjective will be changed to its く form, and な-Adjectives/nouns will be followed by に.
- 車の音が聞こえる。I can hear the sound of a car.
- アニメに出てくる女の子の声は可愛く聞こえるけど、声優はいつもおばさんだ。Voices of girls that appear in anime sound cute, but the voice actor is always an old lady.
- こう歌うと上手に聞こえる。If you sing like this, you will sound good.
- 電車に聞こえるけどあれは隣の人のいびきだ。It sounds like a train, but that is the neighbor's snoring.
聞(き)こえる
Usage Notes for 聞(き)こえる:
Synonyms for 聞(き)こえる:
れる・られる (Potential)
To be able, Can (Potential)
Example of 聞(き)こえる
「西山さんは生まれつき耳が聞こえないんです。」
'Nishiyama has been deaf since birth.'
隣のせきくんはうるさすぎるわよ。彼が音楽を聴くときいつもあたしのアパートに聞こえるわ！
My neighbor Seki is too loud! Whenever he listens to music, I can hear it in my flat!
「教師の声が小さすぎるから何も聞こえないんだよ。」
'The teacher is too quiet, so I cannot hear anything.'
「外がうるさいからテレビの音がよく聞こえない。」
'Since it is loud outside, I cannot hear the TV very well.'
「滝の音はすごく大きくてここからでも聞こえます！」
'The sound of the waterfall is really loud, and we can hear it even from here!'
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