How to Write 听 (tīng) — Meaning “to listen, to hear”

Imagine you are listening so hard that you open your mouth (口) wide, and your ear (the right side 斤 looks like an ear shape) catches every sound. Alternatively, think of 'ting' like the sound of a bell, and you use your mouth to say 'ting' while listening.

The left 口 should be small and placed high, occupying about one-third of the width. The right part 斤 starts with a short horizontal stroke, then a left-falling stroke, a vertical, and a right-falling stroke—make sure the vertical stroke is straight and the final stroke balances the character.

听 means 'to listen' and has the phonetic component 斤 on the right. 卟 (bǔ) is rare and means 'to divine' with a 卜 on the right. 古 (gǔ) means 'ancient' and has 十 on top of 口—it is not phonetic. Visually, 听 has a 斤, 卟 has a 卜, and 古 has a 十 above the mouth.

You use 听 for actions like listening to music (听音乐), hearing news (听说), or following instructions (听话). In Chinese culture, listening is seen as an important way to learn and show respect, so phrases like 听说 ('it is said that') are very common in daily conversation.

Common words containing 听 include: 听见 (tīng jiàn) — to hear; 听音乐 (tīng yīn yuè) — to listen to music; 听说 (tīng shuō) — to hear of; it is said that.