きかす

聞かす
to inform about
to read to
to sing for

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I

きかせる¹, きかす【利かせる, 利かす】

1 〔効きめを持たせる〕 (do sth to) bring out 《a thing's》 effect; put sth to good use; (調味料を) season 《with salt》 to bring out the taste; bring out 《a salty, a sweet, a bitter》 taste; 〔示す〕 display.

●顔を利かせる ⇒かお 5

・幅を利かせる make one's weight [influence] felt; throw one's weight around

・にらみを利かせる frighten people with one's stare; use intimidation

・すごみを利かせる frighten sb with threats; make use of threats; bully sb

・おもしを利かせる place a heavy stone on top 《of a lid covering items being pickled》; use a heavy stone to press down 《when pickling, when gluing parts together》; press down with a (heavy) weight

・パンチを利かせる put in more punch [dynamism]

・冷房を利かせる put the air conditioner to (good) use.

●もっと塩を利かせてください. Put in more salt, please. | It needs more salt.

2 〔心を働かせる〕 use; exercise.

●気を利かせる ⇒き³

・機転を利かせる use [exercise] tact; think quickly.

II

きかせる², きかす【聞かせる, 聞かす】

1 let sb hear 《about…》; tell sb 《a story》; 〔演奏して〕 play for sb; 〔歌って〕 sing for sb.

●読んで聞かせる read sth (out) to sb.

●何か面白い話を聞かせてください. Tell us an interesting story.

・ご意見をお聞かせください. Please let us know what you think.

・今日はある人から大変参考になる話を聞かせてもらった. I picked up something very useful from somebody today.

・ひとつ歌ってお聞かせしましょう. I'll just sing you a little song.

2 〔聞くことを強いる〕 make sb listen 《to…》; 〔耳に入れさせる〕 drum into sb; 〔同意させる〕 make sb agree.

●言って聞かせる reason with sb.

●つまらない愚痴を聞かせてしまいました. I'm sorry for making you listen to my petty complaining [complaints].

・子供のころから偉大であった祖父の話を聞かされて育った. From childhood I grew up listening to stories about what a great man my grandfather was.

・これがりっぱな芸術品だということはさんざん聞かされている. It has been drummed into me that this is a wonderful work of art.

・これは子供に聞かせる話ではない. This story is not fit for the ears of children.

・これは彼には聞かせたくない話だ. I do not want him to be told about this.

・二度としないように息子によく話して聞かせます. I'll make sure he knows he's not to do that again.

3 〔声や演奏で引き付ける〕 hold sb enchanted by 《one's voice》.

●あのテノールはなかなか聞かせるね. What a beautiful [an entrancing] voice that tenor has!

聞かせどころ 〔芝居･歌の〕 the best part.