聞き込み

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 聞き込み (ききこみ) is a noun for canvassing or inquiry carried out by questioning people in an area.
• Basic usage: It describes a detective continuing inquiries at shops or a reporter canvassing local residents.
  • 探偵は駅前の店で聞き込みを続けた。 — The detective continued asking questions at stores near the station.
  • 記者が周辺の住民に聞き込みを行った。 — The reporter canvassed residents in the neighborhood.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Gathering information from people nearby
  • 聞き込み focuses on collecting information by approaching relevant people around an area, rather than asking a single ordinary question.