hear

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 聞 is read きく, has 14 strokes, and relates to hearing or asking and also appears in fixed words such as newspaper.
• Basic usage: 新聞 is read しんぶん, and 聞く is read きく.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 新聞 and 聞く
  • 新聞 means newspaper.
  • 父は朝食を取りながら新聞を読む。 means “My father reads the newspaper while eating breakfast.”
  • 聞く means to listen or to ask.
  • 静かな部屋で先生の話を聞いた。 means “I listened to the teacher in the quiet room.”