聞く

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 聞く (きく) is a godan verb used both for receiving speech and for asking someone for information.
• Basic usage: 先生の話を聞いた denotes listening to spoken content, while 道を近くの人に聞く marks the requested information with を and the person asked with に.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Heard content and requested information
  • 話を聞く and 道を聞く both use を, but their complements differ. When 人に聞く is also present, the construction asks that person for directions rather than merely listening to a road.