🇯🇵 How to say

“to ask” in Japanese

聞くきく
Illustration of "to ask" in a Japanese cultural setting
A student raises their hand in a classroom, politely asking the teacher for clarification on a difficult math problem.

Usage note

聞く means both 'to ask' and 'to listen', so it's used when requesting information or paying attention to what someone says. It's polite and common in everyday situations.

Examples

  • 先生に質問を聞きます。

    I ask the teacher a question.

  • 道を聞いてください。

    Please ask for directions.

  • 名前を聞いてもいいですか？

    May I ask your name?

Quick check

What does "聞く" mean?

  • A. to ask
  • B. to clean
  • C. to wait
  • D. to enter

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