Written with the kanji 聞, which depicts an ear (耳) within a gate (門) — something that can be "heard" through an opening. The same character covers both "listening" and "asking" in Japanese, reflecting the idea that receiving information (by ear or by inquiry) is one unified concept.

Japanese has a rich set of verbs for perception, and 聞く (kiku) does double duty that English splits across two words: "to listen/hear" and "to ask." Context always makes the meaning clear. A separate, more respectful verb — 伺う (ukagau) — is used when asking a superior, so learners should be mindful of register when speaking with bosses or customers. Don't confuse 聞く with 聴く (also kiku), a variant kanji used specifically for attentive or artistic listening, such as enjoying music.