Mnemonic
You press your ear against the massive gate to hear the king's secret decree. The cold iron hums with whispered words — every rumor, every scandal seeping through the gate's cracks straight into your ear. You hear it all, and you cannot unhear it.
Additional thoughts
Picture the kanji literally: an ear (耳) nestled inside a gate (門). You're eavesdropping through a locked gate, your ear catching every whisper that slips through the cracks.Quick recall
Press your ear to the gate to hear every secret whispered behind it.Details
The keyword for 聞 is hear. This kanji refers to the act of perceiving sound, encompassing both passive hearing and active listening. It extends to the idea of asking or inquiring, as hearing often involves seeking information through questions. It also covers the sense of learning something through what one has heard, connecting to notions of reputation, news, and hearsay — things known because they have reached one's ears.
- On'yomi
- ぶん、もん
- Kun'yomi
- き.く、き.こえる