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听见 (tīng jiàn) — to hear (perceive sound)

Definition

听见 emphasizes the RESULT — you actually caught/perceived the sound. Use 听 for the action of listening; use 看见 for the parallel ‘catch sight of’. Negate as 听不见 (can’t hear).

verb
to hear (perceive sound)

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ shén me dōu tīng bú jiàn.
    I can't hear anything.
  • 听见？
    Nǐ xiǎng tīng jiàn shén me?
    What do you want to hear?
  • 听见。
    Tā méi tīng jiàn nǐ de míng zì.
    He didn't hear your name.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

听tīnglisten
见jiànperceive

The 听 listening and 见 perceiving combine to mean hearing.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →
Appears in
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