Learn Hardcore Japanese: byouin no uketuke de zisin no hanasi wo kikimasita. - I heard talk about an earthquake at the hospital reception.

病院の受付 literally means “the reception desk of the hospital.” The particle の links two nouns—病院 (hospital) and 受付 (reception/desk)—to show possession or association: “the hospital’s reception.”

What is the role of the particle で in 受付で?

The particle で marks the place where an action occurs. So 受付で means “at (the) reception desk.”

In 地震の話, why is の used and what does 話 mean?

話 means “talk,” “story,” or “conversation.” The の links 地震 (earthquake) to 話, indicating that it’s a talk about the earthquake: “a conversation/story about the earthquake.”

Why is 話 marked with を in 話を聞きました?

を marks the direct object of a transitive verb. Here, 聞く (to hear or to listen to) takes 話 as its object—話を聞く means “to hear a talk.”

What’s the difference between 聞きました and ?