聞こえる

聞こえる is an intransitive verb meaning that something can be heard or sounds in a certain way. The thing being heard is the topic of perception and is marked with が (usually the sound, voice, or noise). It focuses on what you perceive, not who makes it. It often describes natural or ambient sounds as well as voices or noises. When you use ～のように聞こえる, you are describing how something sounds, comparing it to something else (it sounds like …). Typical contexts: everyday sounds (rain, music, footsteps), voices or opinions that come across a certain way, or describing how something feels when heard. Formal/polite forms are listened with 〜ます/〜です in conversation (聞こえます, 聞こえました). Often contrasts with 聞こえない (cannot be heard) or 聞こえるか if you are asking whether you can hear it.