闻Tone 2

wén ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

闻 · wén

hear;

news;

to smell;

famous;

reputation

hearnewsto smell

Usage highlights

newsto hearto smellfamousreputationto hear and see

Synonyms

听— to listen
嗅— to smell
知— to know
悉— to learn about

Antonyms

哑— mute (cannot hear/speak)
聋— deaf (cannot hear)
默— silent (no sound to hear)

Usage & contexts

Examples

I heard the news (听到新闻).
This flower smells very fragrant (这花闻起来很香).
He is a well-known scholar (他是闻名的学者).
Have you heard about this matter?(你听闻过这件事吗?)

Collocations

news(新闻)
to hear(听闻)
to smell(闻起来)
famous(闻名)
reputation(名声)
to hear and see(闻见)

Idioms

Well-known throughout the world(闻名遐迩)
Hearsay(道听途说)
Unprecedented(闻所未闻)
To fill one's ears(充耳不闻)
To turn a deaf ear(置若罔闻)

Cultural background

In Confucian tradition, being 'well-informed' (博闻) was considered an important quality for scholars.
The character combines 'ear' (耳) and 'door' (门), suggesting information entering through the ear.
In ancient China, official news was announced at city gates, hence the connection between 'hearing' and 'gates'.

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