耳

See also: 目

耳	U+8033, 耳 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8033

← 耲
[U+8032]

CJK Unified Ideographs

耴 →
[U+8034]

⽿	U+2F7F, ⽿ KANGXI RADICAL EAR

← ⽾
[U+2F7E]

Kangxi Radicals

⾀ →
[U+2F80]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order (Japan)

Stroke order (Chinese)

Stroke order (Japan)

Alternative forms

When part of a compound character, particularly as the left radical, the bottom horizontal stroke may not cross at bottom right. This is a script variant, found for example in Japanese 聴.

Han character

See images of
Radical 128 耳

耳 (Kangxi radical 128, 耳+0, 6 strokes, cangjie input 尸十 (SJ), four-corner 1040₀)

Kangxi radical #128, ⽿.

Derived characters

Appendix:Chinese radical/耳
佴, 咡, 𪣌, 㛅, 弭, 𢙘, 挕, 洱, 𬌯, 𫔾, 𭤶, 栮, 𣧹, 𣭞, 𪸥, 珥, 䏪, 𥙟, 眲, 𧙫, 䋙(䌺), 𧊗, 衈, 𥚅, 誀, 𬦮, 𨌀, 䣵, 鉺(铒), 𩊐, 餌(饵), 駬, 𬴿, 𮫸, 𪕔, 𨏄
刵, 取, 恥, 𫾬, 毦, 郰, 𨠧, 鵈, 咠, 𡱡, 茸, 𢩇, 斊, 𥥯, 𥹢, 䇯, 𮐘, 髶, 𩲽, 𬸽, 𫉻, 聾, 闻, 敢, 摂, 朂, 𢦀, 𤧬

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 965, character 5
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 28999
Dae Jaweon: page 1413, character 12
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2783, character 1
Unihan data for U+8033

Chinese

trad.		耳
simp. ^#		耳
2nd round simp.		⿻二⿰丨丨

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 耳
Shang		Western Zhou	Warring States		Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (耳) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
佴	nɯːs, njɯs
麛	*miː
弭	*mniʔ
渳	*mniʔ
葞	*mniʔ
髶	njis, njoŋ
聻	*nɯʔ
恥	*n̥ʰɯʔ
咡	njɯ, njɯs
誀	njɯ, njɯs
耳	*njɯʔ
洱	njɯʔ, njɯs
駬	*njɯʔ
餌	*njɯs
珥	*njɯs
衈	*njɯs
毦	*njɯs
刵	*njɯs
眲	njɯs, rnɯːɡ

Pictogram (象形) – an ear.

Etymology 1

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *r/g-na (“ear”).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): ěr (er³)

(Zhuyin): ㄦˇ

(Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): er³

(Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): èr

(Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): ěr

(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): эр (er, II)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ji⁵

(Dongguan, Jyutping++): ngai⁵

(Taishan, Wiktionary): ngei² / ngi²
Gan (Wiktionary): eo³
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): ngí

(Hailu, HRS): ngi^ˊ

(Meixian, Guangdong): ngi³
Jin (Wiktionary): er²
Northern Min (KCR): nèng
Eastern Min (BUC): ngê / ngī
Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): hi⁵ / zi³
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): hī / hǐ / hīⁿ / nǐ / ní / jí / jíⁿ

(Teochew, Peng'im): hin⁶ / re²

(Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): hi⁶ / lu⁵
Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): nji²
Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ⁶gni / ⁶gher / ¹er / ³er / ⁶er
Xiang
(Changsha, Wiktionary): e³

(Loudi, Wiktionary): eu³

(Hengyang, Wiktionary): er³

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: ěr
  - Zhuyin: ㄦˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: ěr
  - Wade–Giles: êrh³
  - Yale: ěr
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: eel
  - Palladius: эр (er)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀɤɻ²¹⁴/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: er³
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: r
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɚ⁵³/
- (Xi'an)
  - Guanzhong Pinyin: èr
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ər⁵³/
- (Nanjing)
  - Nanjing Pinyin: ěr
  - Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): er³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ər¹¹/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: эр (er, II)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɛɻ⁵¹/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: ji⁵
  - Yale: yíh
  - Cantonese Pinyin: ji⁵
  - Guangdong Romanization: yi⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jiː¹³/
- (Dongguan, Guancheng)
  - Jyutping++: ngai⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋɐi¹³/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: ngei² / ngi²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ᵑɡei⁵⁵/, /ᵑɡi⁵⁵/

Note: ngi2 - variant pronunciation.

Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: eo³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɵ²¹³/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngí
  - Hakka Romanization System: ngi^ˋ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: ngi³
  - Sinological IPA: /ŋi³¹/
- (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
  - Hakka Romanization System: ngi^ˊ
  - Sinological IPA: /ŋi²⁴/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: ngi³
  - Sinological IPA: /ŋi³¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: er²
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /əɻ⁵³/
Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: nèng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /neiŋ⁴²/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: ngê / ngī
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋɛi²⁴²/, /ŋi³³/

Note:

ngê - vernacular;
ngī - literary.

Puxian Min
- (Putian, Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: hi⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hi²¹/
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: zi³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡si⁴⁵³/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: zi³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡si³³²/

Note:

hi5 - vernacular;
zi3 - literary.

Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Changtai, Yongchun, Taipei, Sanxia, Hsinchu, Kinmen, Magong, Penang, Singapore, Klang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hī
  - Tâi-lô: hī
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hi
  - IPA (Taipei): /hi³³/
  - IPA (Klang): /hi³¹/
  - IPA (Penang): /hi²¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Changtai, Yongchun, Kinmen, Singapore): /hi²²/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Nan'an, Hui'an, Lukang, Philippines)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hǐ
  - Tâi-lô: hǐ
  - IPA (Jinjiang, Lukang, Philippines): /hi³³/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Nan'an, Hui'an): /hi²²/
- (Hokkien: Zhangpu, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan, Taichung)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hīⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: hīnn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hvi
  - IPA (Zhangpu, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan): /hĩ³³/
- (Hokkien: Longyan)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: nǐ
  - Tâi-lô: nǐ
  - IPA (Longyan): /nĩ⁵³/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Nan'an, Hui'an, Yongchun, Changtai, Longyan, General Taiwanese, Klang, Philippines)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ní
  - Tâi-lô: ní
  - Phofsit Daibuun: nie
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Nan'an): /nĩ⁵⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Yongchun, Changtai, Taipei, Klang): /nĩ⁵³/
  - IPA (Philippines): /ni⁵⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /nĩ⁴¹/
  - IPA (Hui'an): /nĩ⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Longyan): /nĩ²¹/
- (Hokkien: Zhangpu, variant in Taiwan)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: jí
  - Tâi-lô: jí
  - Phofsit Daibuun: jie
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /zi⁴¹/
  - IPA (Zhangpu): /d͡zi⁵³/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: jíⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: jínn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: jvie
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /d͡zĩ⁵³/

Note:

hī/hǐ/hīⁿ/nǐ - vernacular;
ní/jí/jíⁿ - literary.

(Teochew)
- Peng'im: hin⁶ / re²
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: hĭⁿ / jṳ́
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /hĩ³⁵/, /d͡zɯ⁵²/

Note:

hin6 - vernacular;
re2 - literary.

(Leizhou)
- Leizhou Pinyin: hi⁶ / lu⁵
- Sinological IPA: /hi³³/, /lu²²/

Note:

hi6 - vernacular;
lu5 - literary.

Southern Pinghua
- (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
  - Jyutping++: nji²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɲi³³/
Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai, Suzhou, Ningbo)
  - Wugniu: ⁶gni
  - MiniDict: nyi^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³nyi
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /n̠ʲi²³/
  - Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /n̠ʲi²³¹/
  - Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /n̠ʲi¹¹³/
- (Northern: Shanghai)
  - Wugniu: ⁶gher
  - MiniDict: r^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³hher
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɦəl²³/
- (Northern: Suzhou)
  - Wugniu: ¹er
  - MiniDict: 'r^平
  - Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /əl⁴⁴/
- (Northern: Hangzhou)
  - Wugniu: ³er
  - MiniDict: 'r^上
  - Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /əl⁵³/
- (Northern: Ningbo)
  - Wugniu: ⁶er
  - MiniDict: r^去
  - Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /əl¹¹³/

Note:

6gni - vernacular;
6gher/1er/6er - literary.

Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: e³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɤ̞⁴¹/
- (Loudi)
  - Wiktionary: eu³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɤ⁴²/
- (Hengyang)
  - Wiktionary: er³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ə³³/

Middle Chinese: nyiX

Rime
Character	耳
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	日 (38)
Final (韻)	之 (19)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	而止切
Baxter	nyiX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ȵɨ^X/
Pan Wuyun	/ȵɨ^X/
Shao Rongfen	/ȵʑie^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ȵɨ^X/
Li Rong	/ȵiə^X/
Wang Li	/ȵʑĭə^X/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ȵʑi^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	ěr
Expected Cantonese Reflex	ji⁵

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*C.nəʔ/

(Zhengzhang): /*njɯʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	耳
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	ěr
Middle Chinese	‹ nyi^X ›
Old Chinese	/*C.nəʔ/
English	ear
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	耳
Reading #	1/1
No.	2783
Phonetic component	耳
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	耳
Old Chinese	/*njɯʔ/

Definitions

耳

ear
耳聾／耳聋 ― ěrlóng ― deaf
ear-like object
木耳 ― mù'ěr ― wood ear; black fungus
something on both sides
耳房 ― ěrfáng ― penthouse

耳門／耳门 ― ěrmén ― side door
handle on both sides of an object
- 鼎黃耳金鉉，利貞。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
  鼎黄耳金铉，利贞。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: I Ching, 11^th – 8^th century BCE
  Dǐng huáng ěr jīnxuàn, lì zhēn. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this usage example)
(obsolete) to hear; to hear of
a surname
(Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien, figurative) something that can be used to coerce or threaten someone

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 耳朵 (“ear”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		耳
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		耳朵
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	耳朵, 耳頭
	Taiwan	耳朵
	Langfang	耳頭
	Chengde	耳朵
	Ulanhot	耳朵
	Tongliao	耳朵
	Chifeng	耳朵
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	耳朵
	Heihe	耳朵
	Qiqihar	耳頭
	Harbin	耳朵
	Jiamusi	耳朵
	Baicheng	耳朵
	Changchun	耳頭
	Tonghua	耳頭
	Shenyang	耳朵, 耳朵丫子
	Jinzhou	耳朵
	Malaysia	耳朵
	Singapore	耳朵
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	耳頭
	Tangshan	耳頭
	Cangzhou	耳朵
	Baoding	耳道
	Shijiazhuang	耳朵
	Lijin	耳朵
	Jinan	耳朵
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Dalian	耳朵
	Dandong	耳朵
	Yantai	耳朵
	Yantai (Muping)	耳朵
	Qingdao	耳朵
	Zhucheng	耳朵
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	耳道
	Lingbao	耳朵
	Jining	耳朵
	Daming	耳子兒
	Wanrong	耳朵
	Linfen	耳朵
	Shangqiu	耳朵
	Yuanyang	耳朵
	Zhengzhou	耳朵
	Kaifeng	耳朵
	Xinyang	耳朵
	Baihe	耳朵
	Xi'an	耳朵
	Baoji	耳朵
	Yanchi	耳朵
	Guyuan	耳刮子
	Longde	耳刮子
	Jingyuan	耳朵
	Tianshui	耳朵
	Xining	耳朵
	Xuzhou	耳朵
	Fuyang	耳朵
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	耳朵, 耳刮子
	Wuzhong	耳朵
	Zhongwei	耳朵扇子
	Bayanhot	耳朵
	Lanzhou	耳朵
	Dunhuang	耳朵, 耳瓜子
	Hami	耳朵
	Ürümqi	耳朵, 耳瓜子, 耳朵瓜子
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	耳朵
	Nanchong	耳朵
	Dazhou	耳朵
	Hanyuan	耳朵
	Xichang	耳朵
	Zigong	耳朵
	Chongqing	耳朵
	Wuhan	耳凍
	Yichang	耳朵
	Xiangyang	耳朵
	Tianmen	耳朵
	Guiyang	耳朵
	Zunyi	耳朵
	Bijie	耳朵
	Liping	耳朵
	Zhaotong	耳朵
	Dali	耳朵
	Kunming	耳朵
	Mengzi	耳朵
	Guilin	耳朵
	Liuzhou	耳朵
	Jishou	耳朵
	Changde	耳朵
	Hanzhong	耳朵
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	耳朵
	Yangzhou	耳頭, 耳朵
	Lianyungang	耳朵
	Lianshui	耳朵
	Xinghua	耳頭, 耳朵
	Nantong	耳頭, 耳朵
	Anqing	耳朵
	Wuhu	耳朵
	Hefei	耳道
	Hong'an	耳朵
Mandarin	Nanping (Yanping)	耳朵
Cantonese	Guangzhou	耳仔
	Hong Kong	耳仔, 耳
	Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou)	耳仔, 耳吉
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou)	耳仔
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	耳吉
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	耳吉
	Macau	耳仔
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	耳仔
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	耳仔
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	耳仔
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	耳吉
	Foshan	耳仔
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	耳仔
	Foshan (Shunde)	耳仔
	Foshan (Sanshui)	耳仔
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	耳仔
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	耳仔
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	耳仔
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	耳仔
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	耳仔
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	耳仔
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	耳仔
	Taishan	耳仔, 耳
	Kaiping (Chikan)	耳仔
	Enping (Niujiang)	耳仔
	Heshan (Yayao)	耳
	Dongguan	耳吉
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	耳吉
	Shenzhen (Dapeng)	耳吉
	Qingyuan	耳仔
	Fogang	耳
	Yingde (Hanguang)	耳朵
	Yangshan	耳仔
	Lianshan (Butian)	耳朵
	Lianzhou (Qingshui; Sihui)	耳
	Shaoguan	耳仔, 耳朵
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	耳仔, 耳朵
	Renhua	耳朵
	Lechang	耳朵, 耳仔
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	耳仔
	Sihui	耳仔
	Guangning	耳仔
	Deqing	耳
	Huaiji	耳仔
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	耳
	Yunfu	耳仔
	Xinxing	耳仔
	Luoding	耳仔
	Yunan (Pingtai)	耳
	Yangjiang	耳仔, 耳
	Xinyi	耳砣
	Maoming (Xinpo)	耳仔
	Lianjiang	耳仔
	Wuchuan (Wuyang)	耳爹
	Nanning	耳朵, 耳仔
	Wuzhou	耳朵, 耳仔
	Yulin	耳鬼
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	耳朵
	Guiping	耳朵
	Mengshan (Xihe)	耳朵
	Guigang (Nanjiang)	耳朵
	Beiliu (Tangliao)	耳朵
	Baise	耳鬼
	Bobai	耳朵
Lingshan	耳朵
Pubei	耳朵
Qinzhou	耳朵
Ningming	耳朵
Hengzhou	耳朵
Hezhou (Pumen, Babu)	耳朵
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	耳仔
Singapore (Guangfu)	耳仔
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	耳仔
Yangon (Taishan)	耳仔
Mandalay (Taishan)	耳
Gan	Nanchang	耳朵
	Lichuan	耳朵
	Pingxiang	耳朵
	Jianning	耳朵
	Taining	耳朵
Hakka	Meixian	耳公
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	耳朵
	Huiyang	耳公
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	耳吉
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	耳吉
	Guangzhou (Zhengguo, Zengcheng)	耳公
	Zhongshan (Wuguishan)	耳公
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	耳公
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	耳公
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	耳公
	Wuhua (Changbu)	耳公, 耳朵
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	耳公
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	耳吉
	Longchuan (Tuocheng; Bendihua)	耳公
	Heping (Linzhai; Bendihua)	耳公
	Lianping (Longjie; Bendihua)	耳公
	Wengyuan	耳朵
	Liannan	耳朵
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	耳朵
	Jiexi	耳空
	Luhe	耳公
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	耳窟
	Changting	耳朵
	Longyan (Yongding)	耳朵
	Longyan (Xiayang, Yongding)	耳公
	Longyan (Gaobei, Yongding)	耳骨
	Longyan (Hukeng, Yongding)	耳公
	Wuping	耳朵公, 耳朵
	Wuping (Zhongshan)	耳朵公
	Wuping (Yanqian)	耳腦, 耳公
	Liancheng	耳公
	Liancheng (Peitian)	耳公, 耳刀
	Liancheng (Juxi)	耳公
	Liancheng (Zhongbao)	耳公
	Liancheng (Laiyuan)	耳空
	Ninghua	耳朵
	Yudu	耳朵
	Ningdu	耳朵
	Tonggu (Sandu)	耳朵
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	耳朵
	Dayu	耳朵
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	耳公
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	耳公
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	耳空
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	耳公
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	耳空, 耳窟仔
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	耳子
	Hong Kong	耳公, 耳仔
	Yangxi (Tangkou)	耳
	Yangchun (Sanjia)	耳朵
	Xinyi (Sihe)	耳仔
	Xinyi (Qianpai)	耳朵
	Gaozhou (Xindong)	耳, 耳公
	Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)	耳
	Huazhou (Xin'an)	耳朵
	Lianjiang (Shijiao)	耳朵
	Lianjiang (Qingping)	耳朵
	Mengshan (Xihe)	耳朵
	Luchuan	耳朵
	Luchuan (Daqiao)	耳朵
	Beiliu (Tang'an)	耳朵
	Mashan (Pianlian)	耳朵
	Sabah (Longchuan)	耳吉, 耳朵
	Senai (Huiyang)	耳公
Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo)	耳公
Singkawang	耳空
Singapore (Meixian)	耳公
Singapore (Dabu)	耳公
Bangkok (Meixian)	耳公
Bangkok (Fengshun)	耳公
Huizhou	Jixi	耳朵
	Shexian	耳朵
	Huangshan (Tunxi)	耳朵
Jin	Taiyuan	耳朵
	Yangyuan	耳朵
	Datong	耳朵
	Xinzhou	耳朵
	Lüliang (Lishi)	耳朵
	Changzhi	耳朵
	Taibus (Baochang)	耳朵
	Linhe	耳朵
	Jining	耳朵
	Hohhot	耳朵
	Baotou	耳朵
	Dongsheng	耳朵
	Haibowan	耳朵
	Erenhot	耳朵
	Pingshan	耳朵
	Zhangjiakou	耳朵
	Handan	耳朵
	Linzhou	耳朵
	Suide	耳朵
Northern Min	Jian'ou	耳仔, 耳川
	Jian'ou (Dikou)	耳, 耳朵, 耳仔
	Songxi	耳朵
	Zhenghe	耳朵, 耳
	Zhenghe (Zhenqian)	耳朵
	Jianyang	耳仔, 耳
	Jianyang (Huangkeng)	耳窟
	Wuyishan	耳仔
	Pucheng (Shibei)	耳朵
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	耳囝, 耳
	Fuzhou (Changle)	耳
	Fuqing	耳囝, 耳
	Yongtai	耳囝
	Gutian	耳囝
	Fu'an	耳栳
	Ningde	耳囝
	Shouning	耳栳
	Zhouning	耳栳
	Fuding	耳栳
	Matsu	耳
Southern Min	Xiamen	耳仔, 耳空
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	耳空
	Quanzhou	耳仔, 耳空
	Jinjiang	耳仔
	Zhangzhou	耳仔, 耳空
	Zhao'an	耳仔, 耳空
	Taipei	耳仔
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	耳仔
	Kaohsiung	耳仔
	Yilan	耳仔
	Changhua (Lukang)	耳仔
	Taichung	耳仔
	Taichung (Wuqi)	耳仔
	Tainan	耳仔
	Taitung	耳仔
	Hsinchu	耳仔
	Kinmen	耳
	Penghu (Magong)	耳仔
	Penang (Hokkien)	耳空, 耳仔, 耳
	Singapore (Hokkien)	耳空, 耳仔
	Manila (Hokkien)	耳仔
	Longyan	耳空
	Zhangping	耳空
	Zhangping (Yongfu)	耳空
	Datian	耳仔
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	耳朵
	Pingnan (Sijie)	耳仔
	Pingle (Zhoutang)	耳仔
	Lechang (Tatou)	耳仔
	Yingde (Yuzui)	耳仔
	Yunan (Liantan)	耳仔, 耳
	Chaozhou	耳
	Shantou	耳
	Shantou (Chenghai)	耳
	Jieyang	耳
	Haifeng	耳
	Bangkok (Teochew)	耳
	Ho Chi Minh City (Teochew)	耳
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	耳
	Singapore (Teochew)	耳, 耳空
	Leizhou	耳
	Wenchang	耳
	Haikou	耳
	Singapore (Hainanese)	耳
Puxian Min	Putian	耳空
	Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang)	耳空
	Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang)	耳空, 耳囝
	Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu)	耳空
	Xianyou	耳空, 耳囝
	Xianyou (Fengting)	耳囝
	Xianyou (Youyang)	耳囝, 耳空
	Fuding (Aoyao)	耳朵
Central Min	Yong'an	耳仔
	Sanming (Sanyuan)	耳仔
	Sanming (Shaxian)	耳仔
Shaojiang Min	Shaowu	耳窟
	Guangze	耳窟
	Jiangle	耳窟
	Mingxi	耳窟
	Shunchang	耳窟
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	耳囝
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Sanxiang)	耳囝
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	耳朵, 耳
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	耳朵
Wu	Shanghai	耳朵
	Shanghai (Chongming)	耳朵
	Suzhou	耳朵, 耳朵管
	Danyang	耳朵
	Hangzhou	耳朵
	Ningbo	耳朵
	Wenzhou	耳朵
	Jinhua	耳朵
Xiang	Changsha	耳朵
	Loudi	耳朵
	Shuangfeng	耳凍
	Quanzhou	耳朵

Etymology 2

According to Pulleyblank (1995), a contraction of 而已 (OC *njɯ lɯʔ).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): ěr (er³)

(Zhuyin): ㄦˇ
Cantonese (Jyutping): ji⁵
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): --ní

(Teochew, Peng'im): re⁷

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: ěr
  - Zhuyin: ㄦˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: ěr
  - Wade–Giles: êrh³
  - Yale: ěr
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: eel
  - Palladius: эр (er)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀɤɻ²¹⁴/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: ji⁵
  - Yale: yíh
  - Cantonese Pinyin: ji⁵
  - Guangdong Romanization: yi⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jiː¹³/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: --ní
  - Tâi-lô: --ní
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: re⁷
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: jṳ̄
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /d͡zɯ¹¹/

Middle Chinese: nyiX

Rime
Character	耳
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	日 (38)
Final (韻)	之 (19)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	而止切
Baxter	nyiX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ȵɨ^X/
Pan Wuyun	/ȵɨ^X/
Shao Rongfen	/ȵʑie^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ȵɨ^X/
Li Rong	/ȵiə^X/
Wang Li	/ȵʑĭə^X/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ȵʑi^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	ěr
Expected Cantonese Reflex	ji⁵

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*nəʔ/

(Zhengzhang): /*njɯʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	耳
Reading #	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	ěr
Middle Chinese	‹ nyi^X ›
Old Chinese	/*nəʔ/
English	=⽽而已 “that’s all”
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	耳
Reading #	1/1
No.	2783
Phonetic component	耳
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	耳
Old Chinese	/*njɯʔ/

Definitions

耳

(literary) Phrase-final particle: merely; only; that's all
- 二三子，偃之言是也！前言戲之耳。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  二三子，偃之言是也！前言戏之耳。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Èrsānzǐ, Yǎn zhī yán shìyě! Qiányán xì zhī ěr. [Pinyin]
  My disciples, Yan's words are right. What I said was only in sport.

Synonyms

(merely): 而已 (éryǐ), 罷了／罢了 (bàliǎo)

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): réng, ěr (reng², er³)

(Zhuyin): ㄖㄥˊ, ㄦˇ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: réng
  - Zhuyin: ㄖㄥˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: réng
  - Wade–Giles: jêng²
  - Yale: réng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: reng
  - Palladius: жэн (žɛn)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʐɤŋ³⁵/
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: ěr
  - Zhuyin: ㄦˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: ěr
  - Wade–Giles: êrh³
  - Yale: ěr
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: eel
  - Palladius: эр (er)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀɤɻ²¹⁴/

Definitions

耳

Only used in 耳孫／耳孙 (réngsūn).

Compounds

References

“耳”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[2], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
“Entry #2604”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2024.
莆田市政协文化文史和学习委员会 [Culture, History and Learning Committee of Putian CPPCC], editor (2021), “耳”, in 莆仙方言大词典 [Comprehensive Dictionary of Puxian Dialect] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), Xiamen University Press, →ISBN, page 263.
莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “耳”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 61.

Japanese

Kanji

耳

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

Go-on: に (ni)
Kan-on: じ (ji, Jōyō)
Kun: みみ (mimi, 耳, Jōyō)、のみ (nomi, 耳)

Compounds

耳(じ)珠(じゅ) (jiju): tragus
耳(じ)朶(だ) (jida): earlobe

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
耳
みみ Grade: 1
kun'yomi

⟨mi₁mi₁⟩ → */mimi/ → /mimi/

From Old Japanese. First attested in the Nihon Shoki of 720 CE.^[1] From Proto-Japonic *mimi.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) みみ [mìmíꜜ] (Odaka – [2])^[2]^[3]
IPA^(key): [mʲimʲi]

Noun

耳(みみ) • (mimi)

ear; ears
耳(みみ)が痒(かゆ)いのです。
Mimi ga kayui no desu.
My ear is itchy.
crust (of bread)
selvedge (woven edge of a bolt of fabric)

Derived terms

イカ耳(みみ) (ikamimi): "squid ears", slang term for a cat folding its ears when upset
獣(けもの)耳(みみ) (kemonomimi): kemonomimi
猫(ねこ)耳(みみ) (nekomimi): nekomimi
耳(みみ)朶(たぶ) (mimitabu), 耳(みみ)埵(たぶ) (mimitabu): earlobe

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
耳
のみ Grade: 1
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 耳 – see the following entry.

【のみ】	[particle] only, limited to [adverb] alone [adverb] merely Alternative spellings 而已, 已

(This term, 耳, is an alternative spelling (archaic) of the above term.)

References

^ “耳”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 耳 (MC nyiX).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	ᅀᅵᆼ〯 (Yale: zǐ)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
Text	*Gloss (hun)*	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527^[3]	귀〮 (Yale: kwúy)	ᅀᅵ〯 (Yale: zǐ)

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [i(ː)]
Phonetic hangul: [이(ː)]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

耳

Wikisource

耳 (eumhun 귀 이 (gwi i))

hanja form^? of 이 (“ear”) [affix]

Compounds

이목 (耳目, imok)
외이 (外耳, oei)
내이 (內耳, naei)
이비인후과 (耳鼻咽喉科, ibiinhugwa)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [4]

Okinawan

Kanji

耳

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

Kun: みん (min)、みみ (mimi)

Compounds

耳(みみ)ぐい (mimigui, “cloud ear fungus”)

Etymology

From Proto-Ryukyuan *mimi, from Proto-Japonic *mimi. Cognate with mainland Japanese 耳 (mimi).

Noun

耳(みん) (min)

ear

Vietnamese

Han character

耳: Hán Nôm readings: nhĩ, nhải, nhãi

chữ Hán form of nhĩ (“ear”).

Compounds

[KDJ2-1] “耳”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006

[DJR-2] Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-3] NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

[1]

[2]

[3]