1To perceive sound or voices with one's ears; to hear.
静かな夜、遠くから犬の鳴き声を聞いた。
On a quiet night, I heard a dog barking in the distance.
目を閉じて、波の音をじっと聞いていた。
I closed my eyes and quietly listened to the sound of the waves.
電話の向こうから彼女の声を聞いて安心した。
Hearing her voice on the other end of the phone put me at ease.
授業中に外で救急車の音を聞いた。
During class I heard an ambulance siren outside.
2To listen attentively, especially to music; this sense is usually written with the kanji 聴く.
毎晩、寝る前に好きな音楽を聴いている。
Every night before bed, I listen to my favorite music.
コンサートホールで静かにオーケストラを聴いた。
I quietly listened to the orchestra in the concert hall.
通勤電車の中でポッドキャストを聴くのが日課だ。
Listening to podcasts on the commuter train is part of my daily routine.
彼はヘッドホンで大音量の音楽を聴いていた。
He was listening to music at high volume through headphones.
3To ask someone about something one wants to know.
道が分からなかったので、近くの人に聞いた。
I didn't know the way, so I asked a nearby person.
分からない単語の意味を先生に聞いた。
I asked the teacher the meaning of a word I didn't understand.
電話番号を聞いてもいいですか。
May I ask for your phone number?
店員に営業時間を聞いてから出かけた。
I went out after asking the clerk about the store's hours.
4To learn of something by hearing it from someone else, often in the form "〜と聞く" ("I hear that...").
彼が来月結婚すると聞いた。
I heard that he's getting married next month.
そのニュースは友達から聞いた。
I heard that news from a friend.
この店の料理はおいしいと聞いたので、来てみた。
I heard the food at this restaurant is delicious, so I came to try it.
5To obey or follow what someone says or advises.
子供は親の言うことをちゃんと聞くべきだ。
Children should properly listen to (obey) what their parents say.
彼は誰の意見も聞かず、自分のやり方を押し通した。
He didn't listen to anyone's opinion and forced through his own way of doing things.
医者の指示を聞いて、しっかり薬を飲んだ。
I followed the doctor's instructions and took my medicine properly.
6To accept or grant someone's request, plea, or argument.
上司は私の提案を聞いてくれた。
My boss gave consideration to my proposal.
裁判所は彼の訴えを聞き入れなかった。
The court did not accept his plea.
7To smell and appreciate the scent of incense, as in the expression 香を聞く ("to listen to incense").
香道では香を「聞く」と言い、匂うとは言わない。
In the art of incense (kōdō), one says to "listen to" (聞く) incense rather than "smell" it.
静かな部屋で香を聞くと心が落ち着く。
Appreciating the incense's scent in a quiet room calms the mind.
8To taste alcohol by sampling it in the mouth to check its flavor and aroma; in specialist use also written 利く, as in 利き酒 ("sake tasting").
蔵元を訪れて、いろいろな日本酒を聞き分けた。
I visited the brewery and tasted my way through various types of sake.
利き酒師は少量の酒を聞くだけで産地を当てる。
A sake sommelier can guess the region just by tasting a small amount.