听 (tīng) - to listen & to hear

听Tone 1

tīng ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 口

檀婷

听 · tīng

to listen;

to hear;

to obey;

to heed;

(in modern usage) to allow;

to let

to listento hearto obey

Usage highlights

listenlisten to musiclisten to the radiolisten to advicehear newsobey orders

Synonyms

  • 闻— to hear; to smell
  • 聆— to listen attentively
  • 听从— to obey; to comply

Antonyms

  • 说— to speak
  • 讲— to talk; to lecture
  • 不听— to not listen; to disobey

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please listen carefully (请仔细听).
  • I can't hear you clearly (我听不清楚).
  • Children should listen to their parents (孩子应该听父母的话).
  • Let me think about it (让我听一下).

Collocations

  • listen(听)
  • listen to music(听音乐)
  • listen to the radio(听收音机)
  • listen to advice(听劝告)
  • hear news(听消息)
  • obey orders(听命令)

Idioms

  • Turn a deaf ear(听而不闻)
  • Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened(兼听则明)
  • Listen to the Way in the morning, die content in the evening(朝闻道，夕死可矣)
  • Willing to obey(言听计从)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character originally depicted an ear next to a king/chief, emphasizing listening to authority.
  • In Confucian philosophy, listening is considered essential for learning and moral development.
  • The modern simplified form uses 口 (mouth) and 斤 (axe), suggesting the act of hearing what is said.

FAQ