tīng'érbùwén: 听而不闻 - To Hear But Not Listen; To Turn a Deaf Ear

• Keywords: 听而不闻, ting er bu wen, Chinese idiom, turn a deaf ear, selective hearing, ignore advice, hear but not listen, Chinese chengyu, what does 听而不闻 mean
• Summary: Learn the common Chinese idiom (chengyu) 听而不闻 (tīng ér bù wén), which means “to hear but not listen” or “to turn a deaf ear.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with 10 example sentences, helping you understand how to describe someone who is deliberately ignoring advice, warnings, or pleas.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tīng ér bù wén
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ), Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: Advanced / HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To hear a sound but pay no attention to it; to deliberately ignore what is said.
• In a Nutshell: 听而不闻 describes a situation where someone physically hears words or sounds but makes a conscious choice not to process, acknowledge, or act on them. It's not about being unable to hear; it's about choosing to ignore. The feeling is one of willful disregard, stubbornness, or negligence.

• 听 (tīng): To listen, to hear. This character is composed of the “ear” radical (耳) and other components, clearly indicating the act of using one's ears.
• 而 (ér): A conjunction meaning “but” or “and yet.” It connects the action of hearing with the contradictory inaction that follows.
• 不 (bù): Not, no. A simple negator.
• 闻 (wén): To hear, to perceive a sound. Originally, this character depicted a person with a large ear. Here, it functions similarly to 听, creating a parallel structure that emphasizes the act of hearing.

The characters combine to literally mean “listen, but not hear/perceive.” This structure highlights the paradox: the physical ability to hear is present, but the mental comprehension or acknowledgement is deliberately absent.

The concept behind 听而不闻 is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, which often emphasizes attentive listening as a form of respect and wisdom. This idiom is a direct criticism of someone who fails to show that respect or is too arrogant or stubborn to heed good advice. It's frequently found in classical texts, historical stories, and philosophical discussions about effective governance and personal cultivation. A classic example is a stubborn emperor who 听而不闻 the wise counsel of his advisors, leading his dynasty to ruin. This trope appears repeatedly in Chinese history and literature. Comparison to a Western Concept: In English, we might say “in one ear and out the other.” While similar, this phrase often implies that the person is forgetful, distracted, or that the information is simply not retained. 听而不闻, however, carries a stronger connotation of deliberate choice and conscious dismissal. It's closer to “turning a deaf ear,” which better captures the intentionality. Someone who is 听而不闻 isn't just forgetful; they are actively choosing to ignore what they've heard.

听而不闻 is a common idiom used in various situations, almost always with a negative or critical connotation. It's a powerful way to express frustration with someone's refusal to listen.

• Parenting: Parents frequently use this to complain about their children who ignore their instructions.
• Workplace: It can describe a stubborn colleague, a team that ignores a manager's feedback, or a boss who disregards employees' concerns.
• Social Commentary: Pundits and citizens might accuse the government or officials of being 听而不闻 to the public's needs or complaints.
• Personal Relationships: One might use it to describe a partner who isn't listening to their feelings or concerns during an argument.

It is formal enough to be used in writing and news reports but common enough to be used in everyday spoken complaints.

• Example 1:
  • 妈妈叫他好几次了，他都听而不闻，继续玩他的游戏。
  • Pinyin: Māma jiào le tā hǎo jǐ cì le, tā dōu tīng ér bù wén, jìxù wán tā de yóuxì.
  • English: His mom called him several times, but he turned a deaf ear and continued playing his game.
  • Analysis: A classic parent-child scenario. It perfectly captures the child's deliberate choice to ignore his mother's calls.
• Example 2:
  • 我们给公司提了很多建议，但管理层似乎听而不闻。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gěi gōngsī tí le hěn duō jiànyì, dàn guǎnlǐcéng sìhū tīng ér bù wén.
  • English: We gave the company many suggestions, but the management seems to turn a deaf ear.
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom used in a professional context to express frustration about being ignored by superiors.
• Example 3:
  • 老师在讲课，他却对着窗外发呆，对老师的话听而不闻。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zài jiǎngkè, tā què duìzhe chuāngwài fādāi, duì lǎoshī de huà tīng ér bù wén.
  • English: The teacher was giving a lecture, but he just stared out the window, completely ignoring the teacher's words.
  • Analysis: This contrasts 听而不闻 with being distracted (发呆, fādāi). The result is the same—not listening—but the phrase emphasizes the disregard for what is being said.
• Example 4:
  • 面对民众的呼声，政府不能再听而不闻了。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì mínzhòng de hūshēng, zhèngfǔ bù néng zài tīng ér bù wén le.
  • English: Facing the cries of the people, the government can no longer afford to turn a deaf ear.
  • Analysis: A formal and serious usage, common in news or social commentary, urging for action and responsiveness.
• Example 5:
  • 我警告过他那个投资有风险，可他听而不闻，结果赔了很多钱。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jǐnggàoguo tā nàge tóuzī yǒu fēngxiǎn, kě tā tīng ér bù wén, jiéguǒ péi le hěn duō qián.
  • English: I warned him that investment was risky, but he wouldn't listen, and as a result, he lost a lot of money.
  • Analysis: This highlights the negative consequences of being 听而不闻. It implies stubbornness leading to a bad outcome.
• Example 6:
  • 医生告诉他要戒烟，但他总是听而不闻。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gàosu tā yào jièyān, dàn tā zǒngshì tīng ér bù wén.
  • English: The doctor told him he needs to quit smoking, but he always turns a deaf ear.
  • Analysis: Used to describe someone ignoring important, expert advice concerning their own well-being.
• Example 7:
  • 对于善意的批评，我们不应该听而不闻。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú shànyì de pīpíng, wǒmen bù yīnggāi tīng ér bù wén.
  • English: We should not turn a deaf ear to well-intentioned criticism.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom in a negative construction (不应该, bù yīnggāi) to provide prescriptive advice about how one should behave.
• Example 8:
  • 我跟他谈我的感受，他却一副听而不闻的样子，让我很伤心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gēn tā tán wǒ de gǎnshòu, tā què yī fù tīng ér bù wén de yàngzi, ràng wǒ hěn shāngxīn.
  • English: I was talking to him about my feelings, but he looked like he was completely ignoring me, which made me very sad.
  • Analysis: This example shows the idiom used to describe a behavior (“a look of…”) in a personal relationship, highlighting the emotional impact of being ignored.
• Example 9:
  • 他沉浸在自己的音乐世界里，对周围的喧闹听而不闻。
  • Pinyin: Tā chénjìn zài zìjǐ de yīnyuè shìjiè lǐ, duì zhōuwéi de xuānnào tīng ér bù wén.
  • English: He was immersed in his own world of music, oblivious to the noise around him.
  • Analysis: This is a rare, more neutral usage. While still about ignoring sounds, the context of being “immersed” (沉浸) frames it as a result of deep focus rather than disrespectful stubbornness.
• Example 10:
  • 这个固执的老人对儿女的劝告向来都是听而不闻。
  • Pinyin: Zhège gùzhí de lǎorén duì érnǚ de quàngào xiànglái dōu shì tīng ér bù wén.
  • English: This stubborn old man has always turned a deaf ear to his children's advice.
  • Analysis: Connects the action of 听而不闻 directly with the personality trait of being stubborn (固执, gùzhí).

• Deliberate vs. Unintentional: The most common mistake is using 听而不闻 for someone who genuinely didn't hear you or was simply absent-minded. This idiom implies a conscious decision to ignore. If someone's mind is elsewhere and they don't even register the sound, a better term is 心不在焉 (xīn bù zài yān - absent-minded).
  • Incorrect: 他戴着耳机，所以对我的话听而不闻。(He was wearing headphones, so he turned a deaf ear to my words.) → Better: 他戴着耳机，所以没听见我说话。(He was wearing headphones, so he didn't hear me.)
• Hearing vs. Seeing: 听而不闻 is exclusively for auditory ignoring. Its direct visual counterpart is 视而不见 (shì ér bù jiàn - to look but not see). They are often used together to describe someone who completely ignores everything around them, e.g., 他对社会问题听而不闻，视而不见 (He turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to social issues).

• 视而不见 (shì ér bù jiàn) - The visual equivalent: to look but not see; to turn a blind eye.
• 充耳不闻 (chōng ěr bù wén) - A very similar and vivid synonym, literally “to stuff one's ears and not listen.”
• 置若罔闻 (zhì ruò wǎng wén) - A more formal synonym meaning to act as if one hasn't heard; to ignore completely.
• 马耳东风 (mǎ ěr dōng fēng) - A poetic idiom meaning “like the east wind to a horse's ear,” describing advice that is completely ignored.
• 左耳朵进，右耳朵出 (zuǒ ěrduo jìn, yòu ěrduo chū) - A colloquial and less formal equivalent: “in one ear and out the other.” It often implies forgetfulness more than deliberate ignoring.
• 心不在焉 (xīn bù zài yān) - Absent-minded; preoccupied. This is a state of mind that causes someone not to hear, whereas 听而不闻 is the action of not listening.
• 固执 (gùzhí) - Stubborn; obstinate. A personality trait that often leads to the behavior of 听而不闻.
• 忠言逆耳 (zhōng yán nì ěr) - Honest advice is harsh to the ear. People often 听而不闻 to this kind of advice.