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聞き耳を立てる (ききみみをたてる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
prick up one's ears ; listen attentively
Describes the act of straining to hear something, often when trying to catch faint or distant sounds. The phrase literally means 'to stand up one's listening ears'.
ドア
の
外そと
で
聞き
き
耳みみ
を
立た
て
た
。
He pricked up his ears outside the door.
Similar words 耳みみ を 澄す ます 耳を澄ます also means to listen carefully, but it emphasizes clearing one's mind and focusing on sound, often in a quiet, meditative way. 聞き耳を立てる implies a more active, sometimes secretive, straining to hear.
Etymology The expression combines 聞き耳 (listening ear) with 立てる (to stand up), figuratively meaning to make one's ears stand up in order to hear better. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a natural extension of the physical gesture of perking up one's ears.
