KANJI: BUN MON ki (hear, listen, ask)

ASCII Art Representation:

  %%,              ,%%,   %%,              ,%%,
  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
  %%%%            %%%%    %%%%            %%%%
  %%%%            %%%%    %%%%            %%%%
  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%    %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
  %%%%            %%%%    %%%%            %%%%
  %%%%            %%%%    %%%%            %%%%
  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%    %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
  %%%%             ""      ""             %%%%
  %%%%                                    %%%%
  %%%%    "%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%    %%%%
  %%%%          %%            %%          %%%%
  %%%%          %%            %%          %%%%
  %%%%          %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%          %%%%
  %%%%          %%            %%          %%%%
  %%%%          %%            %%          %%%%
  %%%%          %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%          %%%%
  %%%%          %%            %%   ,,     %%%%
  %%%%          %%       ,,,,,%%%%%""     %%%%
  %%%%    %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%""""%%"         %%%%
  %%%%     %%%%%%"""          %%          %%%%
  %%%%      "                 %%          %%%%
  %%%%                        %%     "%%%%%%%%
  "%%"                                 "%%%%"

Character Etymology:

An ear in a doorway. Usually taken to mean something like "listening at a gate," though it is felt by some that the gate radical shares phonetic meaning with distinguish and thus this character would mean "distinguish with the ear."

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: BUN MON
kun-yomi: ki(ku) ki(koeru)

Nanori Readings:

none

English Definitions:

1. BUN, MON: to hear, something that is heard
2. ki(ku): to hear, to listen, to ask
3. ki(koeru): to be heard, to be audible

Character Index Numbers:

New Nelson: 4732
Henshall: 200

Unicode Encoded Version:

聞

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

醜聞 (shuubun): scandal
新聞 (shinbun): newspaper
艶;聞 (enbun): love affair

Previous: divide | Japanese Kanji | Next: rice