听候 (tīng hòu) — to wait for (a decision, instruction, etc.); to… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning to wait for a decision, instruction, or ruling from an authority. Far more official than the everyday 等 — typically used in legal, military, or institutional contexts where a higher body is deciding.

verb

to wait for (a decision, instruction, etc.)to be pending

Examples

听候。
Wǒ men zhèng zài tīng hòu shàng jí de zhǐ shì.
We are waiting for instructions from our superiors.
听候。
Zhè ge àn zi hái zài tīng hòu pàn jué.
This case is still awaiting judgment.
听候。
Tā de cí zhí shēn qǐng tīng hòu dǒng shì huì pī zhǔn.
His resignation is pending board approval.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

听 means listen and 候 means wait; 听候 expresses waiting to hear instructions.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聽; 听 is its simplified writing.

耳耳ěrear
口口kǒumouth(s)

The traditional form 聽 has 耳 (ear) and 口 (mouth), used for listening; the simplified 听 is a later shortened form unrelated to that picture.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

矦

矦hóu候hòu

Same sound today

候 combines 亻, relating to people, with 矦, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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