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聪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
聪
cōng
quick at hearing
HSK 2, a, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #10902, Easy
聪
cōng
wise
HSK 2, a, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #10902, Easy
聪
cōng
clever
HSK 2, a, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #10902, Easy
聪
cōng
sharp-witted
HSK 2, a, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #10902, Easy
聪
cōng
intelligent
HSK 2, a, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #10902, Easy
聪
cōng
acute
HSK 2, a, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #10902, Easy
聪
cōng
sharp (of sight and hearing); intelligent, clever, bright
HSK 2, a, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #10902, Easy
cōng(cong1)cong T1
1quick at hearing
2wise
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March 24, 2026
聪(聰)cōng(cong1)
The character 聪 (cōng) conveys the meaning of being quick-witted, intelligent, and sharp in perception, particularly in hearing. It is commonly used to describe someone who is clever or astute in understanding and responding to situations, often highlighting their mental acuity. In everyday contexts, it can be used to compliment someone's intelligence or perceptiveness.
Strokes15Radical耳Frequency#10902DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being 聪明 (cōngmíng) is highly valued, especially in educational settings. Parents often aspire for their children to be 聪明, associating intelligence with success and respect in society.
Memory tip
Imagine a wise owl perched on a tree, its big ears listening intently to the sounds of the forest. The character 聪 has the radical for 'ear' (耳) on the left, emphasizing the connection to sharp hearing and intelligence, while the right part (聪) sounds like 'cōng,' reminding you of the cleverness of the owl.
Meanings of 聪
cōng(cong1)
1quick at hearing
2wise
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 聪
聪Simplified
聰Traditional
15Strokes
耳Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10902Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2
Podcast: 聪
Podcast: 聪
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AI study notes for 聪
Quick Contrast
聪 (cōng) vs 明 (míng) — use 聪 for sharpness in perception or intelligence, while 明 emphasizes clarity or brightness.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 聪 (cōng) with similar-sounding words, as tone is essential in Mandarin. It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but often appears in more literary or complimentary phrases. Common collocations include 聪明 (cōngmíng - clever) and 聪慧 (cōnghuì - wise).
HSK Study Tips
Although 聪 is not listed in the official HSK levels, it is related to other HSK vocabulary like 聪明 and 明 (míng - bright). Focus on recognizing its components and practicing its pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar characters.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 聪 (cōng) with 聪明 (cōngmíng) as a standalone term. Remember that 聪 can describe sharpness in hearing or intelligence on its own, while 聪明 is specifically about cleverness. An incorrect usage could be saying '我很聪' instead of '我很聪明.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 聪
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Learning Lab
Knowing 聪 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
聪 = 耳 + 总. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 聪
IDS Structure⿰耳总
聪Full character
=
耳er3
left
总zong3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 聪?
How to say quick at hearing in Chinese
“quick at hearing” in Chinese is聪cōng
The character 聪 (cōng) conveys the meaning of being quick-witted, intelligent, and sharp in perception, particularly in hearing. It is commonly used to describe someone who is clever or astute in understanding and responding to situations, often highlighting their mental acuity. In everyday contexts, it can be used to compliment someone's intelligence or perceptiveness.
When to use 聪
Be cautious not to confuse 聪 (cōng) with similar-sounding words, as tone is essential in Mandarin. It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but often appears in more literary or complimentary phrases. Common collocations include 聪明 (cōngmíng - clever) and 聪慧 (cōnghuì - wise).
聪 or something close to it
聪 (cōng) vs 明 (míng) — use 聪 for sharpness in perception or intelligence, while 明 emphasizes clarity or brightness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 聪 (cōng) with 聪明 (cōngmíng) as a standalone term. Remember that 聪 can describe sharpness in hearing or intelligence on its own, while 聪明 is specifically about cleverness. An incorrect usage could be saying '我很聪' instead of '我很聪明.'
Write 聪
聪
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Practice writing 聪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 聪
聪 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Susan'sa very bright and intelligent woman who knows her own mind.
8
我得承认，你是个挺聪明的孩子。
wǒ de chéngrèn， nǐ shì gè tǐng cōngmíng de háizi。
You're a bright enough kid, I'll give you that.
9
他是个聪明人，是个好小伙。
tā shì gè cōngmíng rén， shì gè hǎo xiǎo huǒ。
He's an intelligent man and a nice fella.
10
我并不认为自己是那种非常聪明、脑子好使的人。
wǒ bìng bù rènwéi zìjǐ shì nà zhǒng fēicháng cōngmíng、 nǎozi hǎo shǐ de rén。
I don't class myself as being very intelligent or brainy.
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Cultural Notes for 聪
💡Did you know?
In Chinese, the character 聪 is associated with the ear (耳). The ability to hear well is often linked to wisdom and intelligence in Chinese culture, emphasizing the importance of listening and understanding.
📜Proverb
A common Chinese saying is '耳聪目明' (ěr cōng mù míng), which means 'sharp of hearing and bright of sight,' used to describe someone who is very perceptive and aware.
Some synonyms for 聪 include 明智 (míngzhì), which means wise, and 聪明 (cōngmíng), which also means clever. These words can be used interchangeably in many contexts to describe intelligence or sharpness of mind.
聪 (cōng) typically refers to being clever or quick-witted, while 智 (zhì) emphasizes wisdom and knowledge. Thus, 聪 is more about sharpness in understanding, whereas 智 is about deep knowledge and insight.
聪 (cōng) means intelligent, clever, or sharp-witted in Chinese. It is often used to describe someone who is quick at understanding or learning new things. The character is associated with wisdom and quickness in hearing or comprehension.
You can use 聪 in a sentence to describe someone's intelligence or cleverness. For example, you might say '他很聪明' (tā hěn cōngmíng), which means 'He is very clever.' This usage highlights the person's sharp-witted nature.
You can say '他很聪明' (Tā hěn cōngmíng) which means 'He is very clever.'
While primarily about intelligence, 聪 can also imply sharpness in perception, such as being quick to understand or react.
聪明 (cōngmíng) often refers to cleverness, while 聪慧 (cōnghuì) suggests wisdom and a deeper understanding.
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