听
tīng
Definition
To listen or to hear something. Often used for music, speech, or instructions.
Example
我喜欢听音乐。
Show translation
I like listening to music.
Etymology
听 is a simplified form of the traditional character 聽, which is beautifully complex: it contains 耳 (ear), 王 (king), 十 (ten), 目 (eye), and 心 (heart) — together suggesting that a true listener hears with their ears, watches with ten eyes, and takes in with their whole heart. The simplification to 听 was part of the 1950s–60s character reform in mainland China.
Cultural note
听 is extremely versatile in Mandarin. Beyond "to listen," it carries a sense of obedience: 听话 (tīng huà) literally means "to listen to words" but means "to be obedient" — a quality highly valued in children in Chinese cultural contexts. Teachers and parents frequently say 你要听话！ ("You need to behave/listen!"). This obedient nuance does not exist in the English word "listen."