意味
To ignore something intentionally.
文化的背景
The merchant figure is central to Italian history, from the Venetian traders to the Florentine bankers. This idiom reflects the historical reality of the 'piazza' (market square) as a place of negotiation and strategic silence. In Tuscany, where the language of Dante and Manzoni originated, you might still hear the more literary 'orecchi' (masculine) instead of 'orecchie'. In the South, this behavior is often linked to 'omertà' (a code of silence), though 'fare orecchie da mercante' is much lighter and more social than the serious implications of omertà. In modern offices, this phrase is used to criticize 'scaricabarile' (passing the buck). If a manager doesn't want to deal with a problem, they 'fanno orecchie da mercante'.
Use it for 'No'
It's a great way to describe a passive-aggressive 'no' without being too harsh.
Preposition Alert
Never say 'di mercante'. It's always 'da'.
意味
To ignore something intentionally.
Use it for 'No'
It's a great way to describe a passive-aggressive 'no' without being too harsh.
Preposition Alert
Never say 'di mercante'. It's always 'da'.
Journalistic Style
Use this in essays to sound more like a native Italian commentator.
The 'Furbo' Factor
Remember that this phrase often implies the person is being 'clever' in a selfish way.
自分をテスト
Coniuga il verbo 'fare' al tempo corretto (Passato Prossimo).
Ieri ho chiesto a Maria di aiutarmi, ma lei ________ orecchie da mercante.
The sentence refers to a specific completed action in the past ('Ieri'), so the Passato Prossimo is required.
Qual è la preposizione corretta?
Non fare orecchie ____ mercante!
The idiom strictly uses 'da' to indicate the role/characteristic of a merchant.
In quale situazione è più appropriato usare questa frase?
Tuo fratello non vuole sentire i tuoi consigli sulla sua nuova ragazza.
The idiom fits perfectly when someone ignores advice.
Completa il dialogo.
A: 'Hai detto a Marco che deve pagare la sua parte?' B: 'Sì, ma lui...'
Marco is avoiding a financial responsibility, a classic use case.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
練習問題バンク
4 問題Ieri ho chiesto a Maria di aiutarmi, ma lei ________ orecchie da mercante.
The sentence refers to a specific completed action in the past ('Ieri'), so the Passato Prossimo is required.
Non fare orecchie ____ mercante!
The idiom strictly uses 'da' to indicate the role/characteristic of a merchant.
Tuo fratello non vuole sentire i tuoi consigli sulla sua nuova ragazza.
The idiom fits perfectly when someone ignores advice.
A: 'Hai detto a Marco che deve pagare la sua parte?' B: 'Sì, ma lui...'
Marco is avoiding a financial responsibility, a classic use case.
🎉 スコア： /4
よくある質問
10 問Both are correct. 'Orecchie' is the standard modern feminine plural. 'Orecchi' is the masculine plural and sounds a bit more old-fashioned or literary.
Yes, but usually when talking *about* your boss to someone else. Telling your boss 'Non fare orecchie da mercante' directly might be too confrontational.
No, it always implies the person hears perfectly well but chooses to ignore the information.
The closest equivalent is 'to turn a deaf ear' or 'to play deaf'.
It's neutral. You can use it with friends, but you'll also see it in newspapers.
No, the word 'mercante' stays singular even if the subject is plural (e.g., 'Loro fanno orecchie da mercante').
Because historically, merchants were seen as people who only listened to what made them money and ignored everything else.
Not inherently, but it is an accusation of being unhelpful or evasive.
Yes! If your dog ignores your command to come, you can say 'Il mio cane fa orecchie da mercante'.
Italians might point to their ear and shake their head or shrug to imply someone isn't listening.
関連フレーズ
fare il sordo
synonymTo play deaf
fare finta di niente
similarTo pretend nothing is happening
voltarsi dall'altra parte
similarTo look the other way
dare retta
contrastTo listen/pay attention to someone
entrare da un orecchio e uscire dall'altro
similarIn one ear and out the other
