聰

Literally means “keen of ear,” describing someone who hears clearly and attentively.

By extension, it came to signify mental sharpness, insight, and intelligence — the ability to discern truth quickly and accurately.

Phono-semantic compound composed of:

耳 (귀 이) — semantic component, meaning “ear,” symbolizing perception and attentiveness.

悤 (바쁠 총) — phonetic component, pronounced chong, implying activity, alertness, and quick response.

Together, they form the image of “an ear that reacts swiftly and perceives clearly” — the faculty of hearing that transcends sound to comprehend meaning.

聰明 (총명) — intelligent; bright; wise

聰慧 (총혜) — clever; wise; perceptive

聰耳 (총이) — keen hearing; acute ear

聰察 (총찰) — sharp observation; discernment

聰悟 (총오) — enlightened understanding

聰敏 (총민) — quick-witted; alert

聰聽 (총청) — attentive listening

聰達 (총달) — wise and broad-minded

聰察人心 (총찰인심) — to discern people’s hearts; keen insight

In early Chinese philosophy, 聰 was closely linked with 明 (brightness) to form the phrase 聰明, describing not merely intellectual capacity but the harmony of clear hearing and clear seeing — complete perceptive wisdom.

「聰以聽，明以察。」

“By hearing one gains awareness; by seeing one gains discernment” — Book of Documents (書經).

The ideal ruler or sage was said to possess “총명한 덕(聰明之德)”, meaning perceptive virtue — the ability to understand what is spoken and unspoken, seen and unseen.

In the Analects (論語), Confucius contrasts superficial cleverness with moral clarity:

「聰而不明，亂也。」

“To hear sharply but lack clarity is to bring confusion.”

Thus, 聰 was not valued for quick wit alone, but for wisdom guided by virtue.

In Buddhist texts, 聰 sometimes appears in the compound 五根 (five faculties) or as part of the notion of 通慧 (penetrating wisdom) — an ear not only open to sound, but to truth.

聰 symbolizes attentive awareness — the union of listening, understanding, and moral discernment.

An “open ear” is the metaphor for an open mind, receptive yet discerning.

To be 聰 is to listen not just to words, but to meaning; not just to others, but to Heaven and conscience.

「虛心以聽，則聰明自來。」

“When the heart is empty and receptive, clarity and wisdom naturally arise.”

聰 teaches that true intelligence begins with listening.

Hearing is the root of understanding — to receive before judging, to observe before acting.

「多聞則聰，多思則明。」

“He who listens much becomes wise in hearing; he who reflects much becomes clear in mind” — Xunzi (荀子).

Thus, 聰 stands as a character of perceptive wisdom and moral attentiveness — the quiet strength of one who hears truth, discerns meaning, and acts with clarity of heart.