Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI am heard | ||
| NegativeI am not heard |
JAPANESE VERB
きこえる
聞こえる
to be heard, can hear
- #84 most used
- Ichidan verb (ru-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI was heard | ||
| NegativeI was not heard |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formbeing heard, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am being heard | ||
| Please (て ください)please be heard |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can be heard | ||
| NegativeI can’t be heard |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to be heard | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to be heard |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s be heard |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I am heard
- If, when (たら) if I am heard
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) be heard (do it)
- Plain command be heard!
- Please don’t please don’t be heard
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | ||
| Causative |
How to use きこえる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
となり の へや から おんがく が きこえます。
I can hear music from the next room.
-
Past
よなか に へん な おと が きこえました。
In the middle of the night I heard a strange noise.
-
Te-form
もしもし、 きこえて います か。
Hello, can you hear me?
-
Potential
こえ が ちいさくて、 よく きこえません。
Your voice is so quiet I can hardly hear you.
-
Want to
もっと よく きこえる せき に すわりたい です。
I want to sit where I can hear better.
-
Volitional
うしろ まで きこえる よう に、 おおきな こえ で はなそう。
Let's speak loudly so it carries to the back.
-
Conditional
なにか きこえたら、 おしえて ください。
If you hear anything, let me know.
-
Commands and requests
きこえない ふり を しないで ください。
Don't pretend you can't hear.
-
Passive and causative
はなしごえ が となり まで きこえて、 ちゅうい されました。
Our voices carried next door and we were told off.
Good to know
- きこえる is when a sound reaches you by itself; きく is when you listen. What you hear takes が: おと が きこえます.
- きこえる already says you can hear, so the potential, want, volitional, imperative and passive sentences show it beside another verb.
Where you hear きこえる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 1
- うみ の おと が きこえます。 I can hear the sea.
- よる、 はなび の おと が きこえました。 At night I could hear the fireworks.
- あした は でんぱ が いい から、 よく きこえます。 The signal will be good tomorrow, so you'll hear well.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- よる は でんしゃ の おと が きこえる。 At night you can hear the trains.
- じょや の かね が きこえた。 We could hear the temple bell.
- もうすぐ かね が きこえる よ。 You'll hear the bell soon.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).