👂❓

How to Say ‘Could you hear it?’ in Japanese

聞こえていましたか。

kikoe te i mashi ta ka

[kee-KOH-eh teh i mah-shee tah ka]

💬 Usage Tip: 聞こえる means "to be audible", so the sound just reaches you. It's different from 聞く "to listen", where you choose to listen.

Phrase Breakdown

聞こえ

kikoe

[kee-KOH-eh]

be heard; be audible

Stem of the verb 聞こえる, meaning a sound reaches your ears naturally.

Example

音楽が聞こえます。

I can hear music.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.

Example

てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。

When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.

い

[i]

be; exist

Part of 〜ている, showing an ongoing action or continuing state.

Example

お待ちしています。

I am waiting.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past marker (part of ました)

「まし」 is part of 「ました」, the polite past tense. It makes the question polite (common in medical settings).

Example

さっきはきましたか。

Did you vomit a moment ago?

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

か

[ka]

question particle

Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.

Example

行くか？

Shall we go?

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