How to Say ‘I listen to what they say.’ in Japanese
話を聞きます。
hanashi o kiki masu
[ha-na-shee oh kee-kee mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: 聞く means both "hear" and "listen", and also "ask". 話を聞く is the set way to say "hear someone out".
Phrase Breakdown
話
hanashi
[ha-na-shee]
talk; story
話 means talk, speech, or story depending on context.
先生の話をよく聞いて。
Listen carefully to the teacher's talk.
を
o
[oh]
object marker
The particle を marks the direct object of a verb.
チケットを二枚ください。
Two tickets, please.
聞き
kiki
[kee-kee]
hear; ask
From 聞く, meaning to hear, listen, or ask. In polite service contexts, it often means 'to ask.'
予約についてお聞きしたいです。
I would like to ask about the reservation.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite non-past ending
Completes the polite expression します.
いつもの道のほうが早い気がします。と控えめに話しました。
I spoke modestly, saying, 'I feel the usual road is faster.'
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