Meanings of 聞
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 聞
Podcast: 聞
Podcast: 聞
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 聞
聞 (wén) vs 聲 (shēng) — choose 聞 for hearing or smelling, while 聲 specifically refers to sound.
Imagine a person standing at a news station, with their ears wide open to 'hear' the latest updates and their nose sniffing out the 'smells' of fresh news. The left side of the character, 聿, resembles an ear, linking it to hearing, while the right side shows the 'mouth' (口) symbolizing speaking or making known.
Be mindful that 聞 can be confused with the similar sounding character 聞 (wèn), which means 'to ask.' In everyday conversation, it is used more informally but is also acceptable in formal contexts. Common collocations include 聞到 (wén dào - to hear or smell something) and 聞名 (wén míng - well-known).
While 聞 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it can be connected to other HSK vocabulary related to communication and perception, such as 听 (tīng - to listen). Focus on practicing its pronunciation and recognizing it in common phrases to enhance listening comprehension.
In Chinese culture, sharing news is often done through word of mouth, making 聞 an important character in social contexts. The phrase 聞雞起舞 (wén jī qǐ wǔ), meaning 'to rise and dance at the sound of the rooster,' reflects the value placed on being alert and responsive to one's environment.
Learners often confuse 聞 with 聞 (wèn) which means 'to ask.' A common mistake is saying 聞问题 (wén wèntí - to hear a question) instead of asking for clarification. The correct usage would be to say 问问题 (wèn wèntí).
Pronunciation of 聞
Drill the tone of 聞 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 聞
Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 聞.
ear
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 聞?
Decomposition of 聞
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 聞?
Write 聞
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 聞 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Cultural Notes for 聞
In Chinese culture, sharing news is often done through word of mouth, making 聞 an important character in social contexts. The phrase 聞雞起舞 (wén jī qǐ wǔ), meaning 'to rise and dance at the sound of the rooster,' reflects the value placed on being alert and responsive to one's environment.
Word Family of 聞
Compound Meaning
What does 新闻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 聞
The pinyin is 'wén', pronounced with a rising tone, similar to the English word 'when' but with a slight upward inflection.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 聞?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.