A2 Idiom رسمی

壁に耳あり障子に目あり

kabe ni mimi ari shouji ni me ari

Walls have ears, screens have eyes

معنی

Be careful what you say, as there might be someone listening or watching.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

The phrase highlights the historical lack of privacy in Japanese homes. Shoji and fusuma (sliding panels) do not block sound, leading to a culture of 'reading the air' and being mindful of neighbors. The use of 'ari' shows how proverbs preserve the 'Bungo' (literary) style of Japanese, which is still respected and used today to give weight to one's words. In the modern era, this phrase is often used in Japan to discuss internet privacy and the fact that 'deleted' posts can still be seen by others. In Japanese companies, 'Nomikai' (drinking parties) are common, but this idiom is a reminder that even at a bar, bosses or competitors might be listening.

🎯

Shorten it for impact

In a real hurry, just whispering '{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}...' while pointing to your ear is enough to get the point across.

💬

The Shoji Factor

Remember that 'shoji' are specifically Japanese paper doors. Using this word adds a lot of 'Japaneseness' to your speech.

معنی

Be careful what you say, as there might be someone listening or watching.

🎯

Shorten it for impact

In a real hurry, just whispering '{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}...' while pointing to your ear is enough to get the point across.

💬

The Shoji Factor

Remember that 'shoji' are specifically Japanese paper doors. Using this word adds a lot of 'Japaneseness' to your speech.

⚠️

Don't say 'arimasu'

Changing 'ari' to 'arimasu' makes it sound like a literal description of a haunted house with ears on the walls.

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.

{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり、[ ]に{目|め}あり。

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: {障子|しょうじ}

The full idiom is '{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}あり'.

Which situation best fits the use of this idiom?

You are in a library and your friend starts talking loudly about a secret crush.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Say '{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}ありだよ。'

This idiom is the perfect way to warn someone that they might be overheard.

Choose the correct meaning of the phrase.

{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}あり

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Be careful, someone might be listening.

It is a figurative warning about eavesdropping.

Complete the dialogue.

A: {田中|たなか}さんの{秘密|ひみつ}、{教|おそ}えて! B: ダメだよ。ここには{人|ひと}がたくさんいるし、[ ]。

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: {壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}ありだよ

B is refusing to tell the secret because they are in a public place.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

بانک تمرین

4 تمرین‌ها
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom. جای خالی A2

{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり、[ ]に{目|め}あり。

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: {障子|しょうじ}

The full idiom is '{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}あり'.

Which situation best fits the use of this idiom? situation_matching A2

You are in a library and your friend starts talking loudly about a secret crush.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Say '{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}ありだよ。'

This idiom is the perfect way to warn someone that they might be overheard.

Choose the correct meaning of the phrase. Choose A1

{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}あり

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Be careful, someone might be listening.

It is a figurative warning about eavesdropping.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

A: {田中|たなか}さんの{秘密|ひみつ}、{教|おそ}えて! B: ダメだよ。ここには{人|ひと}がたくさんいるし、[ ]。

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: {壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}ありだよ

B is refusing to tell the secret because they are in a public place.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

سوالات متداول

4 سوال

Yes, though they might use the shortened version more often. It's a staple of Japanese culture.

It's a bit informal for a standard email, but could be used in a friendly warning to a close colleague.

Because you can poke a hole in paper shoji to look through, whereas you can only listen through a solid wall.

No, the pairing of wall/ear and shoji/eye is fixed.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

{口|くち}は{災|わざわ}いの{元|もと}

similar

The mouth is the source of disaster.

🔗

{聞|き}かぬが{花|はな}

contrast

Not hearing is a flower (Ignorance is bliss).

🔗

{秘密|ひみつ}を{漏|も}らす

builds on

To leak a secret.

🔗

{天|てん}に{口|くち}あり{地|ち}に{耳|みみ}あり

similar

Heaven has a mouth, Earth has ears.

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