listen to
listen to は英検5級・英検4級レベルの英単語で、「聞く、耳を傾ける、耳を傾ける、従う」という意味があります。発音記号は /ˈlɪsən tuː/ です。
聞く
解説 Definition
音楽や話などに注意を向けて耳を傾けること。
To listen to something means to pay attention to sounds or to what someone is saying. It is commonly used for music, advice, instructions, and conversation. Unlike "hear," it usually includes active attention.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
listen to は hear「自然に聞こえる」と違い、音楽・話・説明などへ意識を向けて耳を傾ける動作を表します。to は注意の向かう先を示すので、listen to music, listen to the teacher, listen to me の形で覚えると定着します。相手の言葉を理解しようと集中して聞く場面に使い、音が耳に入るだけの状態とは区別しましょう。
Remember listen to by comparing it with hear. Hear can be passive, but listen to means you actively give attention to a sound, a person, or words. The to points to the target of your attention, as in listen to music, listen to the teacher, and listen to me.
例文
I like to listen to music before I sleep.
私は寝る前に音楽を聞くのが好きです。
Please listen to me carefully.
私の話をよく聞いてください。
She listened to the teacher's explanation and took notes.
彼女は先生の説明を聞いてメモを取りました。
耳を傾ける
(意味 2)解説 Definition
音楽、説明、人の話などに意識を向けてしっかり聞くことを表します。単に音が耳に入るのではなく、相手や音声の内容を理解しようとして注意を払う場面で使います。
"Listen to" means to pay attention to sounds, music, speech, or other audio so that you can understand it. It is used when someone makes an active effort to hear, not when sound simply reaches the ears naturally. It often appears when talking about conversations, instructions, lessons, or announcements.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
hear は音が自然に「聞こえる」こと、listen to は意識して相手や音のほうへ注意を向けることです。to は注意の向かう先を示すと考えると、listen to music、listen to a teacher、listen to an announcement の形が覚えやすくなります。目的語を直接置く listen music は標準的ではなく、対象の前に to を置く点も固定して覚えましょう。
Remember the difference between hear and listen to: hear is passive, but listen to is active. You choose to direct your attention to someone or something. The word to shows the target of your attention, so it is natural to say listen to music, listen to a teacher, or listen to an announcement. That is why listen music is not standard English.
例文
I always listen to music on the train.
私は電車でいつも音楽に耳を傾けます。
Please listen to the teacher carefully before you start the test.
テストを始める前に先生の話にしっかり耳を傾けてください。
Few people stopped to listen to the announcement at first.
最初、そのアナウンスに耳を傾ける人はほとんどいませんでした。
耳を傾ける、従う
(意味 3)解説 Definition
単に音や声を聞くのではなく、相手の助言・注意・指示をしっかり受け止めるときに使う。内容を大事にして行動に反映する、という含みがあり、「言うことを聞く」に近い場面でよく用いられる。
To listen to someone or something means to give your attention to it on purpose, not just to hear a sound. It is often used when you take advice, warnings, instructions, or another person's words seriously. It can also suggest that you accept what was said and let it guide your actions.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず hear との違いで覚えると定着しやすいです。hear は自然に「聞こえる」、listen to は意識して相手や音の方へ注意を向けて「耳を傾ける」。to が入るので、注意が対象へ向かう感覚までセットで覚えるのがコツです。listen to music, listen to the teacher, listen to advice のように、音・授業・助言をしっかり受け取る場面で頻出。特に Listen to me. は会話でよく出る定番表現です。なお listen music とは言わず、必ず to を置く点も一緒に固定すると混乱しません。
Remember the difference from hear first: hear means a sound comes to your ears naturally, but listen to means you choose to give attention. The to shows that your attention is going toward a target, such as music, a teacher, or advice. Do not say listen music; say listen to music. A useful common phrase is Listen to me.
例文
Please listen to your teacher carefully.
先生の言うことをよく聞いてください。
You should listen to her advice before you make a decision.
決める前に彼女の助言に耳を傾けるべきです。
He refused to listen to the warning and went out alone.
彼は警告に従わず、一人で出かけた。
listen to の語源・成り立ち Etymology
listen は古英語 hlysnan「耳を澄ます」由来、to は「〜の方向へ」を表します。ただ聞こえる hear と違い、注意を相手へ向ける動きが核なので listen to は「耳を向けて聞く」。同根の listener、listening にもその能動性が残ります。
"Listen" comes from Old English hlysnan, meaning "to pay attention with the ears," while "to" adds the sense of direction toward something. This made "listen to" mean not just hearing, but actively turning attention toward a sound or speaker. Related words such as "listener" and "listening" still show that active sense.
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