Idioms using the word "耳 (ear)"

・耳Mimiがga 痛いitai(One's ear hurts)
・耳Mimiにni たこtakoがga できるdekiru(Forming calluss on one's ear)
・耳Mimiがga 早いhayai (One has quick ears)
・耳Mimiにni 残るnokoru(Sticks in one's ear)
・耳Mimiをwo 疑う utagau(Doubt one's ears)

慣用句（idiom） are expressions that combine two or more words to create a different meaning.

The meaning is completely different from the original words, so it is useful to know idioms. 

Idioms often use words related to the body, such as “hand (te)” and “leg (ashi).” This month, let’s learn some useful idioms that use the word “ear(mimi).”

 

The meaning of mimi ga itai is “It’s painful to hear someone point out your own failures or flaws that you’re already aware of.” This expression is less commonly used when the point is made by someone superior.

• Lets Try It Out!
  ～You are meeting up with a friend.～
  
  You: Gomen, osokunatte (Sorry, I was late)! Asa okitara, 10ji dattanda...(When I woke up in the morning, it was 10:00 ....)
  Friend: Saikin, itsumo kuruno ga osoiyone (You have been running late for our meetups lately).
  You: Mimi ga itai(That’s hard to hear)...hontouni gomen ( I’m so sorry).

 

The meaning of mimi ni tako ga dekiru is “Tired of hearing the same thing over and over again”. Calluses are formed when a part of your body that you always use becomes hard; like, for example, a pen callus. You cannot use this expression when a superior is addressing you.

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～A child is playing a TV game.～
  
  Mother: Hayaku shukudai shinasai (Finish your homework)!
  
  Child: Wakatteru (I know)! Mimi ni tako ga dekiru (I’m sick of hearing it)! Nando mo iwanaideyo (Don’t tell me that again)!

 

The meaning of mimi ga hayai is “Learning of new information or rumors faster than other people.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～A and B are talking about a shop near the station.～
  
  A: Ekimae ni yūmei na panya ga dekiru rashii desuyo (I hear a famous bakery is opening near the station).
  
  B: He~(Wow). Shirimasendeshita (I didn’t know that). A san, mimi ga hayaidesune (You have your ear to the ground).

 

The meaning of mimi ni nokoru is “You can’t forget the sounds, voices, words, or music you’ve heard.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～A and B are talking about a movie they saw yesterday.～
  
  A: Kinō no eiga no saigo no uta, sugoku yokattane (The song at the end of yesterday's movie was really great, wasn’t it?).
  
  B: Un, Mimi ni nokoru uta dayone. (Yeah, the song really stuck in my head)

 

The meaning of mimi wo utagau is “You doubt whether you heard correctly because you can't believe what you heard”.

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～You’re surprised that you won a competition.～
  
  A: Yūshō omedetou (Congratulations)!
  
  You: Arigatou (Thank you). Jishin ga nakattakara, namae wo yobareta toki wa bikkuri shite mimi wo utagattayo (I was so surprised when they called my name that I couldn’t believe my ears).