Meanings of 听
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About 听
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Podcast: 听
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AI Study Notes for 听
听 (tīng) vs 聆 (líng) — use 听 for general listening, while 聆 is more formal and implies attentive listening.
Imagine a person cupping their ear to listen closely to a whisper, symbolizing the act of listening (听). The character 听 combines the radical for 'ear' (耳) on the right, emphasizing hearing, with the phonetic component 'tīng.' Picture this person saying 'Ting!' to capture your attention.
Be cautious with the tone; 听 is pronounced with a high level tone (tīng). A common mistake is to confuse it with the character '停' (tíng), which means 'to stop.' It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often paired with words like '音乐' (music) or '话' (speech).
As an HSK Level 1 word, 听 connects well with other basic verbs like '说' (to speak) and '看' (to see). Focus on its pronunciation and usage in simple sentences, such as '我听音乐' (I listen to music).
Listening holds a significant place in Chinese culture, often associated with respect and attentiveness during conversations. It reflects the value of harmony and understanding in social interactions.
Learners often confuse 听 with '听见' (tīngjiàn), which specifically means 'to hear something.' For example, saying '我听见音乐' (I listen to music) is incorrect; it should be '我听音乐.'
Pronunciation of 听
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Etymology of 听
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.
Words 口 reaching an ear 斤
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 听
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Write 听
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Practice writing 听 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 听
听 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 10 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.
Complete the Sentence
她一边____音乐，一边写作业。
She listens to music while doing homework.
Example Sentences for 听 (10)
Cultural Notes for 听
Listening holds a significant place in Chinese culture, often associated with respect and attentiveness during conversations. It reflects the value of harmony and understanding in social interactions.
Word Family of 听
Compound Meaning
What does 听 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 听
You can say '我听中文' (I listen to Chinese) to indicate you are listening to the language.