听凭 (tīng píng) — to let (someone) do as they please; to allow without interference

Definition

听凭 (tīngpíng) is a formal written verb meaning to let someone act on their own, with no interference or objection. Compare with 让, which is the everyday word for 'let/allow'; 听凭 emphasizes yielding completely to the other person's will.

verb
to let (someone) do as they pleaseto allow without interference

Examples

  • ，听凭。
    Tā jiān chí yào qù, wǒ yě zhǐ hǎo tīng píng tā le.
    He insisted on going, so I had to let him.
  • 听凭。
    Wǒ men bù néng tīng píng zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng jì xù xià qù.
    We cannot allow this situation to continue.
  • ，听凭。
    Jì rán nǐ jué dìng le, wǒ jiù tīng píng nǐ ba.
    Since you've decided, I'll let you be.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

听tīngallow
凭píngallow

听 (allow) and 凭 (allow) combine to mean letting someone act freely without interference.

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.

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.

Open 听 →

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 憑; 凭 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
馮
馮féng憑píng
Same sound today

In the traditional form 憑, 心 relates to the heart or mind, and 馮 gives the sound. The simplified 凭 is a later abbreviation, so its visible parts are not the historical parts.

Open 凭 →

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