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What's the meaning of すます in 耳をすませば?

How would you translate this?
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2011-07-31T02:03:03.063
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2016-01-17T19:19:23.680
2011-07-31T02:19:11.920
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translation meaning set-phrases idioms
What's the meaning of すます in 耳をすませば?
It is difficult to translate `すます` alone in this context. `耳をすます` is an idiom
meaning 'pay attention to any slight sound'
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2011-07-31T02:12:38.153
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2011-07-31T02:12:38.153
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`すます` is `澄ます` without the kanji, and it means "to clear, to purify".

`耳をすます【みみをすます】`is a set phrase, listed in the dictionary in its complete form,
meaning to listen carefully.

You can think of `すます`, then, in this context, as meaning to clear out your
ears so as to listen better.
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2011-07-31T02:14:42.947
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2011-07-31T02:31:49.310
2011-07-31T02:31:49.310
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As stated above 耳をすます is an idiom that means 'to listen carefully'. If we
translate literally there is a kanji for 'ears' - '耳' and a verb 'すます' which
means - 'to clear' - so if we combine these it's - 'to clear ears' which is
the same as 'to listen carefully'.

As for translation of 耳をすませば, it seems that すませば is a form of a verb to
include 'if'. So I would translate it as 'if you/someone listen carefully' or
something of that sort.
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2016-01-17T19:19:23.680
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2016-01-17T19:19:23.680
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