聞き覚えがある
kikioboe ga aru
In Japanese, "sounds familiar" is expressed as 聞き覚えがある (kikioboe ga aru).
The phrase is used specifically when you remember hearing a particular piece of information, a sound, a voice or a melody. Because it focuses on auditory recognition, it is distinct from expressions used for things you recognize by sight.
How do you pronounce it?
kikioboe ga aru
Did you know?
- Japanese has an even more specific phrase 聞き慣れている (kikinarete iru) for things that sound familiar simply because you hear them every day, such as a city's noise.
- The word 覚え (oboe) in this phrase comes from the verb 覚える (oboeru), which means both 'to remember' and 'to learn' or 'to memorize'.
- In a polite or humble context, a speaker might use 聞き覚えがございます (kikioboe ga gozaimasu) to sound more professional or distant.
Examples in context
- その名前、聞き覚えがある。That name sounds familiar.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to say a name sounds familiar.Tatoeba #11958105 by small_snow, translation #4015974 by CK
- その名前には聞き覚えがあるな。That name sounds familiar to me.This sentence demonstrates saying a name sounds familiar to you.Tatoeba #12422308 by bunbuku, translation #6437988 by CK
- その話、聞き覚えがある。Sono hanashi, kikiomoe ga aru.That story sounds familiar.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are talking about a new restaurant.
- 美咲 Misaki「サクラカフェ」っていうお店なんだけど。Sakura Kafe tte iu omise nan dakedo.It's a shop called Sakura Cafe.
- 健太 Kentaその店名、聞き覚えがあるな。Sono tenmei, kikioboe ga aru na.That shop name sounds familiar.
- 美咲 Misakiどこかで聞いたことある？Dokoka de kiita koto aru?Have you heard of it somewhere?
- 健太 Kentaテレビの広告で見た気がする。Terebi no koukoku de mita ki ga suru.I feel like I saw it in a TV commercial.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
