耳鳴り

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 耳鳴り, read みみなり, and it combines 耳, meaning ear, with 鳴り, meaning ringing or sounding.
• Basic usage: 耳鳴り is tinnitus or ringing perceived in the ears or head without a corresponding external sound source.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A perceived internal sound rather than ambient noise
  • Both examples use the form 耳鳴り. It focuses on ringing experienced by an individual, which may stand out in a quiet room or follow a loud sound, rather than noise produced nearby.
• Ringing noticed in silence and symptoms after a loud sound
  • 静かな部屋に入ると急に耳鳴りが気になった。 — The ringing in my ears suddenly became noticeable when I entered the quiet room.
  • 物語の主人公は大きな音の後で耳鳴りを感じた。 — After a loud noise, the protagonist experienced ringing in their ears.