Oh, My Ears are Burning! Japanese Idioms 耳が痛い

耳が痛い
mimi ga itai
(of a reprimand) to make one’s ears burn; hit where it hurts

When someone says something that hits on a touchy subject or reminds you of a weakness you have, then your “ears hurt.”

Literally, “ears hurt.” The “hurt” in your ears comes from hearing something you don’t want to hear.

彼の忠告を聞くのは、耳が痛い。

kare no chuukoku o kiku no wa, mimi ga itai.
Hearing his advice really hit a nerve.

彼 kare—he
忠告 chuukoku—advice; warning
聞く kiku—to hear; to listen

Subscribe to Makoto+ for a few bucks a month and get Makoto ezine, haiku lessons, repetition and shadowing, tongue twisters, and much more!

Check out our growing library of our highly-discounted, instant downloadable digital bundles.