目 and 耳: body parts and means of perception

Learn the names for eyes and ears, distinguishing an action's object from a means of perception.

Actions affecting the eyes

目, read め, means eye. 目を閉じました。 says that someone closed their eyes. を marks the object of 閉じる.

片方の目だけ閉じてください。 asks someone to close only one eye. Omitting 片方 and だけ can broaden the request to both eyes.

耳, read みみ, means ear. 両手で耳をふさぎました。 says that someone covered their ears with both hands.

両手で gives the means; 耳を gives the object covered. Do not reverse the roles into covering hands with ears.

目で形を確かめ、耳で音を確かめました。 says that someone checked the shape with their eyes and the sound with their ears. で marks the means of checking.

耳を澄ませました。 describes listening intently. It does not mean literally washing the ears clear; learn the whole expression.

Show the answer and why

Both hands are the means, and the ears are what is covered. Distinguish で from を.