Mimi ga Itai (耳が痛い - Being Ashamed to Hear)

Mimi ga Itai

When someone's remarks or criticisms hit your sensitive or weak point, and it is harsh for you to hear that, you can use the Japanese idiom 'mimi ga itai' (耳が痛い) to describe the situation.

'Mimi' (耳) means "ear" and 'itai' (痛い) means "to hurt" or "to feel painful," so the literal meaning of 'mimi ga itai' is "to feel pain on one's ear."

This idiom implies that you feel pain on your ear when you hear what you don't want to hear.

Of course, you can also use this expression when your ear physically hurts.

耳が痛い

誰かの発言や批判が自分の弱みをついていて、聞くことが辛いことを、「耳が痛い」と表現します。

「耳」は "ear"、「痛い」は "to hurt" や "to feel pain" を意味するので、「耳が痛い」の文字どおりの意味は "to feel pain on one's ear" となります。

聞くことが辛いのを、耳の痛みにたとえているというわけです。

もちろん、耳が物理的に痛い場合にも、「耳が痛い」と言うことができます。