How to Use 初耳 (hatsu mimi)

初耳 (hatsu mimi) is an extremely handy phrase if you're spending a lot of time learning a new language - specifically, the Japanese language! As soon as I learnt this word, I couldn't get enough of how useful it was both in and outside of my Japanese lessons.

A good starter example of how to use 初耳 (hatsu mimi) would be:

• その言葉、初耳です (Sono kotoba, hatsu mimi desu / That's the first time I've heard that word/phrase*)

Or if you're looking for something nice and multipurpose:

• 初耳です (Hatsu mimi desu / That's the first time I've heard it)

While so far we've focused on using 初耳 (hatsu mimi) to describe a word/phrase you're hearing for the first time, it is in fact far more flexible and applicable to all sorts of scenarios.

For example, the phrase we've just seen above could also be used to express surprise at some news that has somehow passed you by. If you want to expand on this phrasing a little further, you could also say:

• その話は初耳です (Sono hanashi wa hatsu mimi desu / This is the first I'm hearing of it)

Personally, this (or a close variant of it) is something I've used in a whole load of situations, from chatting with friends to navigating tense conversations in the workplace!

Before we move on to this week's bonus language note, here's an example of how a conversation using 初耳 (hatsu mimi) can go down between friends:

• A: あの人結婚してたの？ (Ano hito kekkon shiteta no? / That person was married?)
• B: 知らなかったの？(Shiranakatta no? / Didn't you know?)
• A: 初耳だよ (Hatsu mimi da yo / It's the first I'm hearing of it)