How do you say "Listen properly." in Japanese?

"Listen properly." in Japanese is "ちゃんと話を聞いて。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

👂🧐

How to Say ‘Listen properly.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "ちゃんと話を聞いて。" mean in English?

"ちゃんと話を聞いて。" means "Listen properly." in English. Usage tip: [ちゃんと話を聞いて。] adds [ちゃんと] for emphasis: “listen carefully/properly.” It sounds stronger than just [聞いて].

ちゃんと話を聞いて。

chanto hanashi o kii te

[chan-to ha-na-shee o kii te]

💬 Usage Tip: [ちゃんと話を聞いて。] adds [ちゃんと] for emphasis: “listen carefully/properly.” It sounds stronger than just [聞いて].

🇯🇵 In Japan: This phrase is very common in family and school settings, especially when someone is distracted or messing around.

Phrase Breakdown

ちゃんと

chanto

[chan-to]

properly; carefully

Shows the action should be done attentively and correctly.

Example

ちゃんとみていてね。

Watch carefully, okay?

話を聞いて

hanashi o kii te

listen to what I have to say; listen to the conversation

話 is 'talk/conversation' and 聞いて is 'listen'; together they mean to listen carefully.

Example

先生の話を聞いて。

Listen to the teacher.

Words in this phrase

話

hanashi

[ha-na-shee]

talk; story

Refers to what someone is saying.

Example

友だちの話を聞いた。

I listened to my friend's story.

を

[o]

object marker

Marks 話 as the object of 聞く.

Example

先生をまっています。

I am waiting for the teacher.

聞い

kii

[kii]

listen

From 聞く, used here in a request to listen.

Example

話をよく聞いて。

Listen carefully to what is being said.

て

[te]

and; please do

Te-form ending used to make a direct but common request.

Example

ちゃんと聞いて。

Listen properly.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager