置若罔闻 (zhì ruò wǎng wén) — to turn a deaf ear to; to completely ignore (advice, warnings, requests)

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

置 is built from 罒, a net, on top and 直 below; 直 gives the sound.

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

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

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

罔 uses 网, a net, to point to its meaning, and 亡 gives the sound.

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 聞; 闻 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 聞, 門 supplies the sound and 耳 is an ear; this explanation is about 聞, not the simplified 闻.