👂

How to Say ‘I can only hear about half’ in Japanese

半分くらいしか聞こえてなくて

hanbun kurai shika kikoe te naku te

[hahn-BOON koo-rah-ee shika ki-ko-e te naku teh]

💬 Usage Tip: しか only works with a negative verb, so "only half" is literally "can't hear anything but half": 半分しか聞こえない. In speech, 聞こえていない shrinks to 聞こえてない.

Phrase Breakdown

半分くらいしか

hanbun kurai shika

only about half

半分 (hanbun) = 'half', くらい = 'about', しか = 'only'. しか is followed by a negative verb.

Example

半分くらいしか食べられない。

I can only eat about half.

Words in this phrase

半分

hanbun

[hahn-BOON]

half

One of two equal parts.

Example

ケーキを半分食べた。

I ate half the cake.

くらい

kurai

[koo-rah-ee]

about; approximately; around

Used with size words to mean approximately that level or degree.

Example

中くらいのくらいはだいたいの大きさです。

The kurai in chuu kurai means an approximate size.

しか

shika

[shika]

only

Used to emphasize exclusivity.

Example

君にしかできない仕事。

A job only you can do.

聞こえてなくて

kikoe te naku te

haven't been able to hear, and...

This is the casual negative te-form of 聞こえる ('to be audible'): 'kikoete nakute'.

Example

声が聞こえてなくて、ごめん。

Sorry, I couldn't hear you.

Words in this phrase

聞こえ

kikoe

[ki-ko-e]

to hear

Indicates the action of catching sound with one's ears.

Example

あなたの声が聞こえます。

I can hear your voice.

て

[te]

te-form ending

Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.

Example

ドアが開いて、入ります。

The door opens, and then I go in.

なく

naku

[naku]

not

Negative form indicator.

Example

今日は行けなくなった。

I can't go today.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

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