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听
tīng
listen
你在听音乐吗？
Are you listening to music?
neutral
To perceive sounds with the ears; to pay attention to what someone says.
请仔细听我说。
Please listen carefully to what I say.
他听到了鸟儿的叫声。
He heard the birds singing.
Commonly used in everyday conversation. Can also mean 'to obey' in some contexts (e.g., 听话 'to be obedient').
neutral
To heed or follow advice or instructions.
孩子应该听父母的话。
Children should listen to their parents.
你要听医生的建议。
You should follow the doctor's advice.
Often used in family or authority contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Listen vs. Hear
In Chinese, 听 implies active listening (paying attention), while 听见 (tīngjiàn) means 'to hear' (perceive sound). Example: 我听见了声音 (I heard the sound) vs. 我在听音乐 (I am listening to music).
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 听 can shift based on context. For example, 听话 means 'to be obedient,' while 听音乐 means 'to listen to music.' Always consider the surrounding words.
Word Origin
From Old Chinese 聽 (tīng), originally meaning 'to hear' or 'to obey.' The character combines 耳 (ěr, 'ear') and 廴 (yín, a phonetic component) to suggest the act of listening.
Usage Notes
听 is a basic verb for auditory perception. In modern usage, it often implies active attention, not just passive hearing. The character is also used in compound words like 听众 (listeners) and 听力 (listening ability).
Word Breakdown
口
mouth (phonetic hint)
component斤
originally a tool, phonetic hint
component耳
ear (indicates the sense of hearing)
component汉英词典