Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when you hear something so shocking you think you might have misheard it.
- Means: To be incredibly shocked by news or a statement.
- Used in: Reacting to scandals, big surprises, or unexpected announcements.
- Don't confuse: With physical hearing problems; it's about mental disbelief.
适合你水平的解释：
意思
To be so surprised or shocked by what one hears that it seems unbelievable.
文化背景
In Japan, expressing shock through idioms like this is often preferred over loud, verbal exclamations in public to maintain 'wa' (harmony). This phrase is a favorite in 'Wide Shows' (Japanese tabloid/talk shows) when discussing celebrity scandals. Japanese literature often uses sensory idioms to describe internal psychological states, a technique dating back to the Heian period. In a business context, using this phrase can be a polite way to ask for clarification on a surprising or problematic statement without being confrontational.
Pair with 'Omowazu'
Using {思|おも}わず (omowazu) before the phrase makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Not for physical pain
If your ear actually hurts, say {耳|みみ}が{痛|いた}いです, not this idiom!
Pair with 'Omowazu'
Using {思|おも}わず (omowazu) before the phrase makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Not for physical pain
If your ear actually hurts, say {耳|みみ}が{痛|いた}いです, not this idiom!
Use in Writing
This is a great phrase to use in the opening of a blog post or an essay to grab attention.
自我测试
Fill in the missing particle and verb in the correct form (past polite).
{彼|かれ}が{犯人|はんにん}だと{聞|き}いて、{耳|みみ}（ ）（ ）。
The phrase is {耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う. Since the action of hearing happened in the past, use the past polite form.
Which situation is appropriate for {耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う?
Choose the best context:
This is a shocking, unbelievable statement, which is the perfect use case for the idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {田中|たなか}さんが{宝|たから}くじで10{億円|おくえん}{当|あ}てたらしいよ。 B: ええっ！そんな（ ）{話|はなし}、{信|しん}じられない！
{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うような{話|はなし} means 'a story that makes you doubt your ears'.
🎉 得分： /3
视觉学习工具
练习题库
4 练习{彼|かれ}が{犯人|はんにん}だと{聞|き}いて、{耳|みみ}（ ）（ ）。
The phrase is {耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う. Since the action of hearing happened in the past, use the past polite form.
Choose the best context:
This is a shocking, unbelievable statement, which is the perfect use case for the idiom.
A: {田中|たなか}さんが{宝|たから}くじで10{億円|おくえん}{当|あ}てたらしいよ。 B: ええっ！そんな（ ）{話|はなし}、{信|しん}じられない！
{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うような{話|はなし} means 'a story that makes you doubt your ears'.
🎉 得分： /4
常见问题
4 个问题Not at all! Just use the casual form '{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}ったよ'. It's very common among friends.
Yes! If you win a prize or get a surprise gift, it's perfectly fine to use it for positive shock.
'Shinjirarenai' is a general 'unbelievable'. '{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う' is more descriptive and idiomatic, focusing on the act of hearing.
It's grammatically possible but rare. Usually, the shock is a finished action, so '{疑|うたが}った' is better.
相关表达
{目|め}を{疑|うたが}う
similarTo doubt one's eyes.
{信|しん}じられない
synonymUnbelievable.
{聞|き}き{捨|す}てならない
specialized formCannot let a comment pass.
{耳|みみ}に{挟|はさ}む
builds onTo happen to overhear.
在哪里用
Winning the Lottery
Friend A: {宝|たから}くじで1{億円|おくえん}{当|あ}たったよ！
Friend B: えっ、まさか！{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うよ。
Celebrity Scandal
Colleague A: あの{清純派|せいじゅんは}の{女優|じょゆう}が{逮捕|たいほ}されたらしいですよ。
Colleague B: ええっ！{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うようなニュースですね。
Sudden Resignation
Manager: {田中|たなか}さんが{今日|きょう}で{辞|や}めることになりました。
Employee: えっ、{田中|たなか}さんがですか？{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}いました。
Rude Comment
Person A: {君|きみ}、{本当|ほんとう}に{仕事|しごと}ができないね。
Person B: （{心|こころ}の{声|こえ}）そんなひどいこと、{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うわ。
Surprise Party Leak
Friend: {実|じつ}は、{明日|あした}サプライズパーティーがあるんだ。
Target: えっ、{僕|ぼく}のために？{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うほど{嬉|うれ}しいよ。
Absurd Price
Clerk: こちらのリンゴは1つ1{万円|まんえん}です。
Customer: 1{万円|まんえん}！？{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}いました。
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of your ears as two tiny judges in a courtroom. When they hear a lie, they bang their gavels and say, 'I doubt that!'
视觉联想
Imagine a person literally taking their ear off and looking at it with a magnifying glass, asking 'Are you sure you heard that right?'
Rhyme
Mimi o utagau, shock is now!
Story
You are at a party. A friend tells you they just bought a private island. You stop drinking, look at your friend, and then touch your ears to make sure they are still working. You say, 'Mimi o utagau!'
In Other Languages
English has 'I can't believe my ears.' French has 'N'en pas croire ses oreilles.' Both use the exact same logic of doubting the sensory organ.
Word Web
挑战
Try to find one 'shocking' news headline today and write a sentence in Japanese using {耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}いました.
Review this phrase whenever you watch a Japanese drama and a character reacts to a plot twist.
发音
Two short 'mi' sounds. Pitch accent: Low-High.
The 'g' is often slightly nasalized in standard Japanese (ga).
正式程度
その{報|しら}せを{聞|き}き、{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}いました。 (Reacting to news.)
そのニュースを{聞|き}いて、{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}った。 (Reacting to news.)
そのニュース、マジで{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}ったよ。 (Reacting to news.)
あのニュース、{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うレベルだったわ。 (Reacting to news.)
The phrase dates back to the early modern period of Japan. It reflects the philosophical idea that while the senses are the primary way we interact with the world, they are not infallible. The word {疑|うたが}う (utagau) originally meant to be in a state of uncertainty or to compare two things and find them inconsistent.
趣味小知识
There is a similar phrase {目|め}を{疑|うたが}う (doubting one's eyes), and they are often taught together as the 'Senses of Disbelief' pair.
文化笔记
In Japan, expressing shock through idioms like this is often preferred over loud, verbal exclamations in public to maintain 'wa' (harmony).
“Instead of shouting 'No way!', a Japanese person might quietly say '{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}いました'.”
This phrase is a favorite in 'Wide Shows' (Japanese tabloid/talk shows) when discussing celebrity scandals.
“The host might start a segment with '{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うようなニュースが{飛|と}び{込|こ}んできました}'.”
Japanese literature often uses sensory idioms to describe internal psychological states, a technique dating back to the Heian period.
“Characters in Natsume Soseki's novels often 'doubt their ears' when faced with social betrayals.”
In a business context, using this phrase can be a polite way to ask for clarification on a surprising or problematic statement without being confrontational.
“If a client asks for something impossible, saying '{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うようなご{要望|ようぼう}ですが...}' (It's a request that makes me doubt my ears, but...) signals the difficulty.”
对话开场白
{最近|さいきん}、{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うようなニュースがありましたか？
もし{友達|ともだち}が「{明日|あした}から{月|つき}に{行|い}く」と{言|い}ったら、{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}いますか？
常见错误
{耳|みみ}が{疑|うたが}う
{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う
L1 Interference
{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}っている (for a past shock)
{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}った
Using it when you can't hear someone in a noisy bar.
{聞|き}こえません
L1 Interference
{耳|みみ}を{信|しん}じない
{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Can't believe my ears
Japanese uses 'doubt' while English uses 'can't believe'.
No dar crédito a lo que uno oye
Focuses on the concept of 'credit' rather than the sensory organ.
N'en pas croire ses oreilles
Uses 'believe' like English.
Seinen Ohren nicht trauen
Almost identical in nuance.
{难以置信|nányǐzhìxìn}
More abstract and less focused on the specific organ 'ear'.
{귀|gwi}를 {疑心|uisim}하다
None; it is a perfect parallel.
لا يصدق أذنيه
Uses the verb 'believe' (yusaddiqu).
Não acreditar nos próprios ouvidos
Uses 'believe' and specifies 'own' ears.
Spotted in the Real World
“{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うような{事件|じけん}の{詳細|しょうさい}が{明|あき}らかになりました。”
Reporting on a major social incident.
“{君|きみ}、{今|いま}{何|なに}と{言|い}った？{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}うよ。”
Reacting to a corrupt superior's statement.
容易混淆
Both involve 'ears' and negative feelings.
{耳|みみ}が{痛|いた}い (ears hurt) means hearing a truth that is hard to face (like criticism), while {耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う is about shock/disbelief.
Both are ear idioms.
{耳|みみ}を{貸|か}す (lend an ear) means to listen to someone's advice or request.
常见问题 (4)
Not at all! Just use the casual form '{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}ったよ'. It's very common among friends.
usage contextsYes! If you win a prize or get a surprise gift, it's perfectly fine to use it for positive shock.
basic understanding'Shinjirarenai' is a general 'unbelievable'. '{耳|みみ}を{疑|うたが}う' is more descriptive and idiomatic, focusing on the act of hearing.
comparisonsIt's grammatically possible but rare. Usually, the shock is a finished action, so '{疑|うたが}った' is better.
grammar mechanics
