Vocabulary

What does 耳が痛い (みみがいたい, mimi ga itai) mean?

耳が痛い (みみがいたい, mimi ga itai) means hitting close to home, painful to hear because it points out one’s weakness (lit.: ears hurt).

Quick facts
Reading	みみがいたい
Romaji	mimi ga itai
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N1

耳が痛いみみがいたい

N1 · estimated, JLPT frameworkmimi ga itai

hitting close to home, painful to hear because it points out one’s weakness (lit.: ears hurt)

Example sentences

運動(うんどう)不足(ぶそく)を指摘(してき)されると本当(ほんとう)に耳(みみ)が痛(いた)い。
It really hits close to home when someone points out my lack of exercise.
先輩(せんぱい)の厳(きび)しい助言(じょげん)は耳(みみ)が痛(いた)いが、自分(じぶん)の成長(せいちょう)のために受(う)け止(と)めたい。
My senior’s strict advice is painful to hear, but I want to take it to heart for my own growth.