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耳朵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
耳朵ěrduoearHSK 3, n, rank #2139, Hard
耳朵ěrduo>只[zhī],個HSK 3, n, rank #2139, Hard
耳朵ěrduo>个[gè],對HSK 3, n, rank #2139, Hard
耳朵ěrduo>对[duì]HSK 3, n, rank #2139, Hard
耳朵ěrduohandle (on a cup)HSK 3, n, rank #2139, Hard
ěrduo(er3duo5) T3
  1. 1ear
  2. 2>只[zhī],個
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March 24, 2026
耳朵ěrduo(er3duo5)

耳朵 (ěr duo) means 'ear' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to the organ of hearing as well as in expressions related to listening or sound perception. The character emphasizes the physical aspect of an ear, distinguishing it from other related concepts.

Frequency#2139DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, listening is highly valued, often associated with wisdom and respect. The concept of 'having ears' can imply being open to advice or feedback, reflecting the importance of communication in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large ear that is shaped like a door (朵) that opens up to sounds from the world. The '耳' part looks like an ear itself, and '朵' sounds like 'door', helping you remember that it's the part of you that hears the world around you.

Meanings of 耳朵

ěrduo(er3duo5)
1ear
2handle (on a cup)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 耳朵

耳朵Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2139Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 耳朵

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Podcast: 耳朵

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AI Study Notes for 耳朵

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large ear that is shaped like a door (朵) that opens up to sounds from the world. The '耳' part looks like an ear itself, and '朵' sounds like 'door', helping you remember that it's the part of you that hears the world around you.

Usage Notes

When using 耳朵, remember that it is typically used in informal contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with related terms like 听 (tīng, to listen) or 耳 (ěr, ear without the '朵'), which can lead to misunderstanding. Pay attention to the measure word, which is usually 只 (zhī) or 个 (gè).

HSK Study Tips

As part of HSK Level 3, 耳朵 connects with other body parts vocabulary like 眼睛 (yǎn jīng, 'eye') and 鼻子 (bí zi, 'nose'). Focus on practicing pronunciation and using it in context with phrases related to actions like listening or hearing.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, listening is highly valued, often associated with wisdom and respect. The concept of 'having ears' can imply being open to advice or feedback, reflecting the importance of communication in social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly say '耳' (ěr) instead of 耳朵 (ěr duo), which is incomplete. Another mistake is using the wrong measure word, like saying '三耳朵' instead of '三只耳朵' for 'three ears.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耳朵

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Component Characters

耳ěrear
HSK 16 strokes耳
View full entry
朵duǒflower
HSK 56 strokes木
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Write 耳朵

耳
朵

Practice writing 耳朵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 耳朵

耳朵 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

那只棕鼠两只____向前支着，一条长尾巴布满鳞片。

The brown rat has prominent ears and a long scaly tail.

Example Sentences for 耳朵 (10)

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1
那只棕鼠两只耳朵向前支着，一条长尾巴布满鳞片。

nà zhī zōng shǔ liǎng zhī ěr duǒ xiàng qián zhī zháo， ， yī tiáo cháng wěi bā bù mǎn lín。

The brown rat has prominent ears and a long scaly tail.
2
她的耳朵、肩膀和髋部呈一条直线。

tā de ěr duǒ、 、 jiān bǎng hé kuān bù chéng yī tiáo zhí。

Her ear, shoulder and hip are in a straight line.
3
所有的人都竖起耳朵听楼梯上传来的脚步声。

suǒ yǒu de rén dū shù qǐ ěr duǒ tīng lóu tī shàng chuán lái de jiǎo bù shēng。

All ears were cocked for the footsteps on the stairs.
4
布兰德敏锐的耳朵听出了口音。

bù lán dé mǐn ruì de ěr duǒ tīng chū le kǒu yīn。

Brand's keen ear caught the trace of an accent.
5
别看我门神老了不捉鬼, 我耳朵可灵着哩.

bié kàn wǒ mén shén lǎo le bù zhuō guǐ, , wǒ ěr duǒ kě líng zháo.

I may be an old codger, but I've sharp ears.
6
“ 振作一点, 老家伙, " 他的朋友对着他的耳朵低声说, " 不管怎么样,我们都要去一趟那里.

“ “ zhèn zuò yī, diǎn , lǎo," jiā huǒ , " tā de péng yǒu duì zháo tā de ěr duǒ," dī shēng shuō , " bù, guǎn zěn mó yàng , wǒ mén dū yào.

" Cheer up, old man, " whispered his companion. " We'll go around , anyhow.
7
库克叫这只狗的名字时，它的耳朵就会稍稍耷拉一下。

kù kè jiào zhè zhī gǒu de míng zì shí， ， tā de ěr duǒ jiù huì shāo shāo dā lā yī。

The dog's ears flattened slightly as Cook spoke his name.
8
严寒冻红了我们的耳朵.

yán hán dòng hóng le wǒ mén de ěr duǒ.

Severe cold turned our ears pink.
9
她用嘴磨蹭他的耳朵。

tā yòng zuǐ mó cèng tā de ěr duǒ。

She nuzzled his ear.
10
约翰意识到自己在亲吻并轻咬她的耳朵。

yuē hàn yì shí dào zì jǐ zài qīn wěn bìng qīng yǎo tā de ěr duǒ。

John found he was kissing and nibbling her ear.

Cultural Notes for 耳朵

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, listening is highly valued, often associated with wisdom and respect. The concept of 'having ears' can imply being open to advice or feedback, reflecting the importance of communication in social interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 耳朵

The correct measure word for 耳朵 is 只 (zhī) or 个 (gè).