聞き上手（ききじょうず、kiきjouzu）
- good listener

The Japanese word 聞き上手, read as ききじょうず (kikijouzu), means "a good listener" or "someone who is skilled at listening." It describes a person who is adept at listening attentively to others, showing empathy, understanding, and providing a supportive environment for communication. It's not just about hearing the words, but about truly comprehending and responding appropriately to what the speaker is saying. A 聞き上手 typically makes others feel heard, valued, and comfortable expressing themselves.

⚫︎ 彼は聞き上手だ。 Translation: He is a good listener. ⚫︎ 彼女は友達の悩みをいつも親身になって聞いてくれる聞き上手です。 Translation: She is a good listener who always listens empathetically to her friends' worries. ⚫︎ 部長は社員の意見をよく聞き、聞き上手なので、皆から慕われている。 Translation: The manager is well-loved by everyone because he listens well to the employees' opinions and is a good listener.

You can use 聞き上手 to describe someone you admire for their ability to listen attentively. You can also use it to describe yourself, but it's more common for others to use it to describe you. When you want to praise someone's listening skills, this is a great word to use. You can use it in a variety of contexts, from casual conversations to professional settings.

聞き上手 is typically written in kanji, with the reading in hiragana: 聞き上手（ききじょうず）. ⚫︎ 聞く is the verb "to listen". ⚫︎ 上手 (じょうず) means "skillful" or "good at". The okurigana (suffix hiragana) for 上手 remains the same. There are no other common ways to write this word, nor are there significant variations in the okurigana. It's always ききじょうず.

⚫︎ 話を聞くのがうまい人 (hanashi o kiku no ga umai hito) - Someone who is good at listening. ⚫︎ 人の話をよく聞く人 (hito no hanashi o yoku kiku hito) - Someone who listens well to people's stories. ⚫︎ 聞き取りの達人 (kikitori no tatsujin) - A master of listening comprehension (less common and slightly more formal). While the above are synonyms, they are not as concise or widely used as 聞き上手.

⚫︎ 話を聞かない人 (hanashi o kikanai hito) - Someone who doesn't listen. ⚫︎ 聞き下手 (ききへた) - Someone who is bad at listening, or not a good listener. ⚫︎ 人の話を遮る人 (hito no hanashi o saegiru hito) - Someone who interrupts people.

彼女は聞き上手だから、みんな彼女に相談したがる。 ・Translation: Because she is a good listener, everyone wants to consult with her. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the positive impact of being a 聞き上手; people are drawn to those who listen well because they feel comfortable sharing their problems and thoughts.

彼は聞き上手なので、顧客との信頼関係を築くのが得意だ。 ・Translation: Because he is a good listener, he is good at building relationships of trust with customers. ・Explanation: This example shows the practical benefits of being a 聞き上手, particularly in a professional setting. The ability to listen effectively helps build trust and improve relationships.

The word is a compound word formed from: ⚫︎ 聞く (kiku) - to listen ⚫︎ 上手 (jouzu) - skillful, good at The combination creates a descriptive noun indicating someone's skill in listening. The etymology is straightforward and reflects the literal meaning of the component parts.