耳の聞こえない
mimi no kikoenai
The English word "deaf" is translated into Japanese as 耳の聞こえない (mimi no kikoenai). Wiktionary also lists 耳が不自由 (mimi ga fujiyuu).
Meaning: unable to hear (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 耳の聞こえない | mimi no kikoenai |
| 耳が不自由 | mimi ga fujiyuu |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 耳の聞こえない is built from 耳 (ear), の (a possessive particle) and 聞こえない (cannot hear).
Which one should you use?
耳の聞こえない is an adjective phrase used to modify nouns, such as describing a deaf person.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to state the fact that someone cannot hear, you use the predicate 耳が聞こえない (the ears cannot hear). However, when you are using the phrase as an adjective to modify a noun, you use 耳の聞こえない.
How do you pronounce it?
mimi no kikoenai
Did you know?
- If you were to say 耳が遠い (mimi ga tooi), you wouldn't be saying someone is deaf, but rather that they are 'hard of hearing' or elderly.
- While 耳の聞こえない is the standard term, you may see the word 聾 (rō) in formal or medical contexts. This single character is the root for the word 'deaf' across much of East Asia, including China and Korea.
- Japanese Sign Language, or 日本手話 (Nihon Shuwa), was officially recognized as a language of Japan only in 2011. Before this, it was often viewed as a tool for communication rather than a distinct language with its own grammar.
Examples in context
- 彼は耳の聞こえない人です。Kare wa mimi no kikoenai hito desu.He is a deaf person.
- 耳の聞こえない子供のために、手話が必要です。Mimi no kikoenai kodomo no tame ni, shuwa ga hitsuyo desu.Sign language is necessary for deaf children.
- 耳の聞こえない方へのサポートをしています。Mimi no kikoenai kata e no sapoto o shite imasu.I am providing support for deaf people.
Example conversation
Two coworkers are discussing how to communicate with a new client.
- 陽葵 Himari新しいクライアントは耳の聞こえない方ですか？Atarashii kuraianto wa mimi no kikoenai kata desu ka?Is the new client a deaf person?
- 健太 Kentaはい、耳の聞こえない方です。Hai, mimi no kikoenai kata desu.Yes, he is a deaf person.
- 陽葵 Himari手話が使える人はいますか？Shuwa ga tsukaeru hito wa imasu ka?Is there anyone who can use sign language?
- 健太 Kenta私が手話でサポートします。Watashi ga shuwa de sapoto shimasu.I will support him with sign language.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deaf” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
