Meanings of 聽
By ear
Play it, then pick what 聽 means.
About 聽
Podcast: 聽
Podcast: 聽
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 聽
听 (tīng) vs 聆 (líng) — use 聽 for casual listening or hearing, while 聆 is more formal and suggests a deeper, attentive listening.
A common mistake is to confuse 聽 with 聞 (wén), which means 'to smell' or 'to hear' in a different context. While 聽 encompasses active listening, it is typically used in informal contexts; in formal settings, one might prefer 聆聽 (língtīng). Be mindful of the tone; the first tone (tīng) is crucial.
Though not officially in the HSK levels, 聽 relates closely to listening exercises in HSK 1 and 2. Students should focus on recognizing it in spoken contexts and practicing its usage in sentences, especially in commands or inquiries.
Learners often mistakenly use 聽 when they mean to refer to passive hearing; for example, saying '我聽到音樂' (Wǒ tīng dào yīnyuè) instead of the more appropriate '我聽音樂' (Wǒ tīng yīnyuè) to indicate actively listening.
Pronunciation of 聽
Drill the tone of 聽 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 聽 to You
Let me explain 聽 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 聽 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Etymology of 聽
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 厅 represents the sound. Simplified form of 聽. The right side looks like 斤 (axe) but is actually a corruption of 厅.
Someone listening 耳 attentively 心
Origin
What kind of character is 聽?
Decomposition of 聽
Parts
Which of these is part of 聽?
How to say to hear, to listen; to understand; to obey in Chinese
“to hear, to listen; to understand; to obey” in Chinese is聽
The character 聽 (tīng) means 'to hear' or 'to listen' and can also imply understanding or obeying. It is commonly used in contexts where attention to sound or instructions is required, such as listening to music or following directions.
When to use 聽
A common mistake is to confuse 聽 with 聞 (wén), which means 'to smell' or 'to hear' in a different context. While 聽 encompasses active listening, it is typically used in informal contexts; in formal settings, one might prefer 聆聽 (língtīng). Be mindful of the tone; the first tone (tīng) is crucial.
聽 or something close to it
听 (tīng) vs 聆 (líng) — use 聽 for casual listening or hearing, while 聆 is more formal and suggests a deeper, attentive listening.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 聽 when they mean to refer to passive hearing; for example, saying '我聽到音樂' (Wǒ tīng dào yīnyuè) instead of the more appropriate '我聽音樂' (Wǒ tīng yīnyuè) to indicate actively listening.
Write 聽
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 聽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 聽?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 聽
Characters with 聽
What does 听 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 聽
You can say '我在聽音樂' (Wǒ zài tīng yīnyuè) meaning 'I am listening to music.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 聽?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.