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顺耳 (shùn ěr) — pleasing to the ear

Definition

Used for words or sounds that are pleasant or tactful to hear; the opposite 刺耳 ('grating to the ear') applies to harsh or offensive speech.

adjective
pleasing to the ear

Examples

  • ，顺耳。
    Tā de huà suī rán hěn zhí jiē, dàn tīng qǐ lái hěn shùn ěr.
    His words, though very direct, sound pleasing to the ear.
  • ，顺耳。
    Zhè shǒu qǔ zi xuán lǜ yōu měi, fēi cháng shùn ěr.
    This piece has a beautiful melody, very pleasing to the ear.
  • ，顺耳。
    Pī píng de huà rú guǒ shuō dé wěi wǎn yì xiē, jiù huì gèng shùn ěr.
    If criticism is put more tactfully, it will be more pleasing to the ear.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

顺shùnplease
耳ěrear

“顺” (please) and “耳” (ear) combine to mean pleasing to the ear.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

耳 is drawn as a picture of an ear.

Open 耳 →
Appears in
Senses

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