听

听 (tīng) is the everyday verb for 'to listen' and 'to hear' in Chinese. Unlike English, which splits 'listen' (active) and 'hear' (passive), 听 covers both — context tells you which: 我在听音乐 ('I'm listening to music,' active) vs 我听见了 ('I heard it,' completed/perceived). For unambiguous 'hear,' add the result complement 见: 听见 (hear, perceive) or 听到 (hear, receive). For the meaning 'obey' or 'listen to (advice),' Chinese also uses 听: 听妈妈的话 ('listen to mom / do what mom says'). 听 commonly takes direct objects: 听音乐 (listen to music), 听课 (attend a lecture), 听老师的 (listen to the teacher). It is one of the four core skill verbs Chinese learners drill alongside 说 (speak), 读 (read), and 写 (write).

Memory hook: The traditional 聽 packs an ear (耳), an eye (目), and a heart (心) — listening with your whole self. The simplified 听 just keeps the action.