뜻
To have difficulty hearing.
문화적 배경
In Turkey, it is common to kiss the hands of elders. If an elder doesn't hear you, you never show frustration; you simply use this phrase to explain the situation to others. In the Ottoman court, certain officials were expected to have 'heavy ears' regarding gossip—meaning they shouldn't easily repeat what they heard, though this is a more metaphorical use of the word 'heavy'. In villages, people often speak very loudly as a default. Sometimes they use 'kulağı ağır' as a joke for someone who is just being slow to understand a joke. With the rise of noise pollution in cities like Istanbul, young people often use this phrase to complain about their own temporary hearing loss after concerts.
The Possessive Rule
Always remember to change 'kulağı' to 'kulağım' if you are talking about yourself!
Don't be blunt
Avoid using 'sağır' for elderly people; it can be seen as disrespectful in Turkish culture.
뜻
To have difficulty hearing.
The Possessive Rule
Always remember to change 'kulağı' to 'kulağım' if you are talking about yourself!
Don't be blunt
Avoid using 'sağır' for elderly people; it can be seen as disrespectful in Turkish culture.
Body Language
When saying this, Turks often lean in or cup their ear to visually signal the meaning.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'kulak' and 'duymak'.
Benim dedem 80 yaşında, bu yüzden ______ biraz ______ duyuyor.
Since the subject is 'dedem' (my grandpa), we need the 3rd person possessive 'kulağı'. The idiom is 'ağır duymak'.
Which sentence is the most polite way to say someone is hard of hearing?
Arkadaşınızın babası sizi duymadı. Ne dersiniz?
'Sağır' is too blunt, and 'dinlemiyor' implies he is ignoring you. The idiom is the most polite choice.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Neden bağırıyorsun? B: Çünkü teyzemin ______ ______ duyuyor.
Shouting is a response to someone being hard of hearing (kulağı ağır duymak).
Match the phrase to the situation.
Which situation fits 'Kulağı ağır duymak'?
The phrase specifically refers to physical hearing difficulty, common in the elderly.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
4 연습 문제Benim dedem 80 yaşında, bu yüzden ______ biraz ______ duyuyor.
Since the subject is 'dedem' (my grandpa), we need the 3rd person possessive 'kulağı'. The idiom is 'ağır duymak'.
Arkadaşınızın babası sizi duymadı. Ne dersiniz?
'Sağır' is too blunt, and 'dinlemiyor' implies he is ignoring you. The idiom is the most polite choice.
A: Neden bağırıyorsun? B: Çünkü teyzemin ______ ______ duyuyor.
Shouting is a response to someone being hard of hearing (kulağı ağır duymak).
Which situation fits 'Kulağı ağır duymak'?
The phrase specifically refers to physical hearing difficulty, common in the elderly.
🎉 점수: /4
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Mostly, yes, but it can be used for anyone with hearing loss or temporary hearing issues due to noise.
Yes, 'işitiyor' is a perfectly correct and slightly more formal alternative to 'duyuyor'.
There isn't a direct 'light ear' phrase for good hearing, but 'kulağı delik' means someone who hears everything (gossip).
No, it's actually the most polite way to address the issue. It's much better than saying 'You are deaf'.
Absolutely not. It only refers to the physical sense of hearing.
You would say 'Kulaklarımız ağır duyuyor'.
No, it's only used for living beings. For a radio, you'd say 'sesi az çıkıyor'.
Not necessarily, but in sensory contexts, 'ağır' usually means diminished or slow.
Then you say 'Duyamadım' (I couldn't hear) or 'Efendim?' (Pardon?). Don't use 'ağır duymak' for a one-time thing.
Yes, 'kulakları paslanmış' (his ears have rusted) is a very informal/slang way to say it.
관련 표현
kulak asmamak
contrastTo not give ear / to ignore.
kulağı delik
contrastTo have a hole in the ear (to be well-informed).
can kulağıyla dinlemek
builds onTo listen with one's soul (very attentively).
ağır işitmek
synonymTo hear heavily.
