闻讯 (wén xùn) — to learn of (news/event); upon hearing the news

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to learn of (news)' or 'upon hearing the news' — used almost exclusively in written news reports, not everyday speech. Typically followed by an action taken in response (赶, 赶到, 致电, etc.).

verb
to learn of (news/event)upon hearing the news
Easily confused

Examples

  • 闻讯。
    Dāng dì jū mín wén xùn gǎn lái bāng máng.
    Local residents rushed over upon hearing the news to help.
  • 闻讯。
    Tā wén xùn hòu lì kè gǎn dào yī yuàn.
    He immediately rushed to the hospital after hearing the news.
  • 闻讯。
    Gè guó lǐng dǎo rén fēn fēn wén xùn zhì diàn wèi wèn.
    Leaders from various countries sent messages of condolence upon hearing the news.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

闻wénhear
讯xùnnews

闻 means hear, and 讯 means news, giving to hear the news.

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 聞; 闻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
耳耳ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
門
門mén聞wén
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

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

Open 闻 →

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 訊; 讯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
卂
卂xùn訊xùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 訊 combines 言 (words) with 卂 as a sound part; the simplified 讯 is a shorthand.

Open 讯 →

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