聞かせる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 聞かせる (きかせる) is an ichidan causative-like transitive verb for letting or making another person hear a story, sound, or performance.
• Basic usage: 昔話を聞かせてくれた has a mother tell a tale for a child, while 曲をみんなに聞かせたい expresses a wish to perform a practiced piece for everyone.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Content presented and listener
  • In 昔話を聞かせる and 曲を聞かせる, を marks the audible content, while みんなに marks listeners. The direction differs from the speaker personally listening.