聽

Originally a compound ideograph, later reanalyzed as a phono-semantic compound.

Earlier form:

耳 (귀 이) — semantic element, meaning “ear.”

口 (입 구) ×2 — denoting “multiple mouths,” i.e. the act of hearing speech from several directions.

Later form (as standardized in seal script):

耳 (ear) — semantic indicator for hearing.

𢛳 (large, extend) — meaning “to spread out, to extend one’s attention,” functioning semantically.

𡈼 (pronounced zhèng / jeong) — phonetic component giving the sound tīng / cheong.

Thus, 聽 conveys “to stretch out the ear and attend to sound attentively.”

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「聽，聰也。从耳，𡈼聲。」

“聽 means to be intelligent or perceptive in hearing. Composed of 耳 (ear) with the sound 𡈼.”

The addition of 𢛳 (“to open, to expand”) in later calligraphic traditions further emphasized attentiveness and awareness in listening.

聽覺 (청각) — sense of hearing

聽診 (청진) — auscultation (medical listening)

聽會 (청회) — public hearing, court session

聽訴 (청소) — hearing of a complaint

聽政 (청정) — to listen to state affairs

聽命 (청명) — to heed or obey orders

聽力 (청력) — auditory ability

聽聞 (청문) — to hear or learn by report

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 981):

「聽，從耳從𢛳從𡈼。」

“Composed of 耳 (ear), 𢛳 (to stretch or open), and 𡈼 (sound component).”

In Confucian philosophy, 聽 symbolizes the ruler’s virtue of attentiveness — to “listen broadly” (博聞強識) is a mark of wisdom.

Listening is not merely sensory but ethical: to 聽言觀行 (“hear words and observe deeds”) ensures moral discernment.

Book of Rites (禮記 · 大學):

「心不在焉，視而不見，聽而不聞。」

“If the mind is not present, one looks but does not see, listens but does not hear” — Here, 聽而不聞 describes the failure of moral attentiveness, not mere deafness.

Analects (論語 · 顔淵):

「聽訟，吾猶人也，必也使無訟乎！」

“In judging lawsuits, I am like any other man; what is needed is to prevent suits altogether” — 聽訟 (“to hear cases”) illustrates the administrative and ethical sense of listening with discernment and fairness.

Mencius (孟子 · 告子上):

「耳之於聲也，有聽而已矣。」

“As the ear is to sound, it merely hears” — Emphasizes the passive sensory role of hearing contrasted with moral understanding.

In Buddhism, 聽法 (“to hear the Dharma”) represents the first step of spiritual awakening — hearing truth leads to reflection (思) and cultivation (修).

In Daoist writings, 聽 often contrasts with 視 (seeing):

“視而不見，聽而不聞” — true perception transcends the physical act of listening, moving toward intuitive awareness.

It encompasses both sensory hearing and ethical receptivity — the readiness to perceive truth, guidance, and harmony.

In every cultural tradition influenced by classical Chinese thought, 聽 stands not merely for the act of hearing but for the art of listening with the heart (以心聽之) — the foundation of wisdom and empathy.