Understanding "听见" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 听见
• Pinyin: tīng jiàn
• Literal Meaning: "hear" (听) + "perceive/see" (见)
• Primary Meaning: To hear or catch sound; to perceive something through hearing.

2. In-depth Explanation

Context and Usage

"听见" is a compound verb used to describe the act of hearing something clearly or becoming aware of a sound. It emphasizes the result of hearing, unlike "听" (tīng), which simply means "to listen" or "to hear" without implying successful perception.

• Nuances:
• Often used in past or completed contexts (e.g., "你听见了吗？" – "Did you hear that?").
• Implies the sound was noticed or understood, not just passively heard.

Character Breakdown

• 听 (tīng): Means "to listen" or "to hear."
• 见 (jiàn): Means "to see" or "to perceive," but here it extends to auditory perception ("to perceive through hearing").
  Together, they create a word that means "to successfully hear."

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 我听见有人在敲门。
   Pinyin: Wǒ tīngjiàn yǒu rén zài qiāo mén.
   English: I heard someone knocking on the door.

2. Chinese: 你听见刚才的声音了吗？
   Pinyin: Nǐ tīngjiàn gāngcái de shēngyīn le ma?
   English: Did you hear the sound just now?

3. Chinese: 他太小了，听不见我们说话。
   Pinyin: Tā tài xiǎo le, tīng bù jiàn wǒmen shuōhuà.
   English: He’s too young; he can’t hear us talking.

Cultural Notes

• In Chinese, "听见" is often paired with negation ("听不见") to express inability to hear, reflecting practical communication (e.g., noisy environments or physical distance).
• Unlike English, where "hear" and "listen" are distinct, Chinese relies on context or additional words (e.g., "听清楚" – "hear clearly") for precision.

Conclusion

"听见" (tīng jiàn) is a useful verb for English learners to express successful auditory perception. Remember: 听 = hear/listen, 见 = perceive, and together they mean "to hear and understand." Practice with the examples to master its usage!