What does 听 mean in Chinese?

听 (tīng) means "to listen; to hear; to obey; a can (loanword from English "tin"); classifier for canned beverages" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

How do you pronounce 听?

听 is pronounced "tīng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 听?

听 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 听?

Common words with 听 include 动听 (pleasant to listen to), 中听 (pleasant to hear (i.e. agreeable news)), 任听 (to allow (sb to act arbitrarily)), 侦听 (to eavesdrop), 偷听 (to eavesdrop).

How do you write 听?

听 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 口. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

听 (tīng), to listen

听

tīng

to listen; to hear; to obey; a can (loanword from English "tin")

HSK 1verbclassifier7 strokes

Traditional: 聽

Character Breakdown

听 = 口 + 斤

A mouth and an axe of weight — to listen carefully

Radical: 口 (no. 30)Strokes: 7Traditional: 聽

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb, classifier) to listen
to hear
to obey
a can (loanword from English "tin")
classifier for canned beverages

Example Sentences

我喜欢听音乐。

Wǒ xǐhuan tīng yīnyuè

I like listening to music

Words Containing 听

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
动听	dòng tīng	pleasant to listen to	HSK 6
中听	zhōng tīng	pleasant to hear (i.e. agreeable news)
任听	rèn tīng	to allow (sb to act arbitrarily)
侦听	zhēn tīng	to eavesdrop
偷听	tōu tīng

Related Words

听取(tīng qǔ)· to hear (news)

→

聆(líng)· to hear

→

听从(tīng cóng)· to listen and obey

→

听闻(tīng wén)· to listen

→

Grammar Notes

Basic Resultative ComplementsHSK 2

Subject + Verb + Resultative Complement (+ Object)

Potential Complement (得了/不了)HSK 3

Verb + 得/不 + Complement (result/direction)

As Soon As (一...就)HSK 3

Subject + 一 + Verb₁，(Subject) + 就 + Verb₂

Continuous State (着)HSK 3

Verb + 着 (+ Object)

Complex Complement ChainsHSK 4

Verb + Resultative/State Complement + Directional Complement

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 1
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

听: HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 听 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.