v.
To receive sound through the ear and perceive it. To listen, attend, obey, heed, or hear about something.
听
Common Usage & Traps
- 听老师 — listen to or obey the teacher
- 听我说 — listen to me
- 听汉语 — listen to Chinese
- 听你的 — do as you say / follow you
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听电影看电影Movies are watched, not just heard. Use 看 for a movie, not 听.
What is the difference between 听 (listening) and 听了 (after listening)?
了 after 听 marks the hearing as finished before the next action.
In a story, 听了 often means 'after hearing this' or 'having heard it'. The 了 shows the hearing is done before the next action starts. If you drop 了, 白天明听坐在... sounds incomplete or like he listens while sitting. Use 听了 when one action finishes and another follows.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Finished hearing before next action | 听了，坐下 | 听，坐下 |
| Hearing now | 我在听 | 我听了 (for 'I am listening') |
| After hearing this | 听了这个 | 听这个 (as 'after hearing this') |
Does 听老师 mean just hearing the teacher or obeying the teacher?
听老师 usually means obey the teacher, not just hear their voice.
When 听 takes a person, it often means follow that person's words or wishes. So 听老师 can mean 'obey the teacher' in everyday Chinese. If you only mean hearing the teacher's voice, say 听老师说话. A parent telling a kid 听老师 is telling them to obey, not just listen.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Obey or follow someone | 我听你的 | 我听你 (for 'I'll do what you say') |
| Just hear a voice | 听老师说话 | 听老师 (when you only mean hearing) |
| Clear obedience | 听老师的话 | 听老师 (when context is unclear) |
Appears in Stories 7 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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可他一开口，整桌人都停下来 听 。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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汉语是“说汉语”，也可以“ 听 汉语”；但是中文是“读中文”，中文和汉字都是眼睛在看。
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
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听 ——我听见雨说话。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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胡之适一 听 他说，便立即给一位做院长的朋友写了封信，说：这是我的朋友元真。
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
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我 听 钱老师说，“where”是“哪儿”。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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大中 听 了，看那杯不热的茶，觉得老先生很好。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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白天明 听 了，坐在老先生前边。
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老先生 听 了，非常高兴。
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