Meaning
Be careful what you say, as there might be someone listening or watching.
Cultural Background
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.
Meaning
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.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり、[ ]に{目|め}あり。
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.
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
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、[ ]。
B is refusing to tell the secret because they are in a public place.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり、[ ]に{目|め}あり。
The full idiom is '{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}あり'.
You are in a library and your friend starts talking loudly about a secret crush.
This idiom is the perfect way to warn someone that they might be overheard.
{壁|かべ}に{耳|みみ}あり{障子|しょうじ}に{目|め}あり
It is a figurative warning about eavesdropping.
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、[ ]。
B is refusing to tell the secret because they are in a public place.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, 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.
Related Phrases
{口|くち}は{災|わざわ}いの{元|もと}
similarThe mouth is the source of disaster.
{聞|き}かぬが{花|はな}
contrastNot hearing is a flower (Ignorance is bliss).
{秘密|ひみつ}を{漏|も}らす
builds onTo leak a secret.
{天|てん}に{口|くち}あり{地|ち}に{耳|みみ}あり
similarHeaven has a mouth, Earth has ears.
