godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
catch; make out; understand (by hearing)
To successfully hear and understand spoken words, often when the speech is unclear, fast, or in a noisy environment. Implies auditory comprehension.
彼の早口の英語を聞き取るのは難しい。
It's hard to catch his fast English.
雑音が多くて、相手の声が聞き取れなかった。
There was so much noise I couldn't make out the other person's voice.
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
ask about; inquire; find out by asking
To gather information about a situation or circumstances by asking questions. Focuses on the act of inquiry rather than passive hearing.
事件の詳しい状況を聞き取るために、警察が現場に来た。
The police came to the scene to inquire about the details of the incident.
まずはお客様のご要望を聞き取ってください。
First, please ask about the customer's needs.