Japanese

ます

みみをすます
Meaning: to listen carefully; to strain one's ears
Part of Speech: Verb

Listen to pronunciation

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 耳を澄ます 耳を澄まさない
Polite 耳を澄まします 耳を澄ましません
Past 耳を澄ました 耳を澄まさなかった
Polite + Past 耳を澄ましました 耳を澄ましませんでした
Te-form 耳を澄まして 耳を澄まさなくて
Potential 耳を澄ませる 耳を澄ませない
Passive 耳を澄まされる 耳を澄まされない
Causative 耳を澄まさせる 耳を澄まさせない
Imperative 耳を澄ませ 耳を澄ますな

Handwriting

耳
を
澄
ま
す

Example

When I listened carefully, I could hear the sound of waves from afar.

Usage Notes

Describes focusing one's attention to hear subtle or distant sounds.

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