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Wo Kiku vs. To Kiku

TexMurphy01

先輩
25 Aug 2011
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Hi there guys,

I've just been reading through some Japanese reading assignments and I've seen examples of both 'wo kiku' after a statement which I guess is being asked. I also have recollections of seeing the particle 'to' with 'kiku'.

Would someone be kind enough to explain the differences between these two versions?

Thanks a lot.
 
"Wo" indicates the object "the content of what the subject asks", whereas "to" is a quotation particle and indicates "the words the subject asks".

彼女はいつ会議があるかを聞いた。
Kanojo wa itsu kaigi ga aru ka wo kiita.
彼女は会議の時間を聞いた。
Kanojo wa kaigi no jikan wo kiita.
She asked when the meeting was held.

彼女は「いつ会議がありますか?」と聞いた。
Kanojo wa "Itsu kaigi ga arimasuka?" to kiita.
She asked "When is the meeting held?"

As for 聞く as "to hear", "to" is for hearsay.

鳥が鳴いているのを聞いた。
Tori ga naiteiru no wo kiita.
鳥の鳴き声を聞いた。
Tori no nakigoe wo kiita
I heard a bird singing.

鳥が鳴いていると聞いた。
Tori ga naiteiru to kiita.
I heard (from someone) that a bird was singing./Someone told me that a bird was singing.
 
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