wén: 闻 - To Hear, To Smell, News, Reputation

Keywords: wén, 闻, how to say hear in Chinese, what does wen mean, Chinese character for smell, Chinese for news, Chinese for reputation, 新闻 (xīnwén), 丑闻 (chǒuwén), 百闻不如一见 (bǎiwénbùrúyījiàn), learn Chinese

Summary: Discover the versatile Chinese character 闻 (wén), a term that bridges the physical senses with abstract ideas. While its core meaning is “to hear” or “to smell,” 闻 is fundamental to understanding how information is perceived and shared in Chinese culture. It forms essential words like “news” (新闻 xīnwén) and “scandal” (丑闻 chǒuwén), and anchors famous proverbs like “seeing is believing” (百闻不如一见 bǎiwénbùrúyījiàn). This page explores its origins, cultural significance, and practical use in modern Mandarin.

Pinyin (with tone marks): wén

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

HSK Level: HSK Level 4 (as part of key vocabulary like 新闻)

Concise Definition: To perceive something with the ears or nose; news or things that are heard; a reputation.

In a Nutshell: Think of 闻 (wén) as the character for “sensory information.” At its most basic, it's about receiving information through your ears (hearing) or your nose (smelling). This physical act then expands to represent the information itself. What you “hear” becomes news, and what others “hear” about you becomes your reputation. While the modern word for “to listen” is 听 (tīng), 闻 retains a more formal, literary, and classical feel, making it a cornerstone of many important compound words.

The image is of an ear (耳) at a door (門), as if someone is listening to what is happening on the other side. This vividly captures the original meaning of “to hear” or “to gather information.” The meaning of “to smell” is a later extension, but the core concept of perceiving something from the outside world remains.

Hearsay vs. Experience: The most famous cultural touchstone for 闻 is the proverb 百闻不如一见 (bǎiwénbùrúyījiàn), which translates to “hearing something a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once.” This phrase is deeply ingrained in the Chinese mindset, emphasizing the value of direct, first-hand experience over secondhand reports or rumors. While Western culture has similar concepts like “seeing is believing” or the legal distinction between hearsay and eyewitness testimony, 百闻不如一见 is a piece of common, everyday wisdom that guides decision-making and skepticism.

Reputation and “Face”: In Chinese culture, what is “heard” about a person—their reputation—is incredibly important. The concept of 闻 is directly linked to social standing and 面子 (miànzi) - social face. A good reputation brings honor, while a bad one, often called a 丑闻 (chǒuwén - ugly news/scandal), can bring immense shame to an individual and their family. Therefore, the act of “hearing” is not just passive; it's a social force that shapes relationships and status.

As a Verb (To Hear): Using 闻 by itself to mean “to hear” is considered very literary, formal, or archaic. You will encounter it in classical poetry, formal speeches, and set phrases, but almost never in casual conversation, where 听 (tīng) is used instead.

`听 (tīng)` - The standard, modern verb for “to listen” or “to hear.” The everyday counterpart to the literary 闻.

`新闻 (xīnwén)` - The most common word containing 闻, meaning “news.”

`丑闻 (chǒuwén)` - A scandal; literally “ugly news.”

`传闻 (chuánwén)` - A rumor; “transmitted news/information.”

`百闻不如一见 (bǎiwénbùrúyījiàn)` - The essential idiom: “Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once.”

`气味 (qìwèi)` - Smell, odor, scent. The noun for the thing that you 闻 (smell).

`听见 (tīngjiàn)` - To hear (and successfully perceive) a sound. It is the resultative form of 听, just as 闻到 is for 闻.

`名声 (míngshēng)` - Reputation, fame. A more direct synonym for the “reputation” meaning of 闻.

`见闻 (jiànwén)` - Knowledge, experience; literally “what has been seen and heard.”