聞き取り
ききとり · kikitori · JLPT N1 · noun
comprehension
👂 聞く (listen) + 取る (take in, pick up) = catching the spoken words as they arrive
取る here means to take in or pick up, as in 聞き取れる (can catch by listening). Your ear grabs each word and takes it in.
取 — ear 耳 + hand 又
取 originally depicted a hand (又) grasping an ear (耳), referencing the ancient practice of soldiers cutting off enemies' left ears as proof of kills to claim rewards. The meaning broadened from 'seize/take by force' to the general sense of 'take, get, obtain' used today.