闻

聞

wén

耳 + 门

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

wén (verb) to hear; to listen

wén (verb) to smell; to sniff

wén (noun) news; information

wén (adjective) well-known; famous

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 聞.

Semantic: 耳 Phonetic: 门

About

闻, the simplified form of 聞, is a phono-semantic compound. The ear component 耳 (ěr) provides the meaning 'to hear', while 门 (mén) , simplified from 門 , serves as the phonetic indicator. Originally denoting the act of hearing, the character later extended to the sense of smell and, through the idea of information received by ear, developed the noun meanings of news, tidings, and current events.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

新闻很有趣。

Xīnwén hěn yǒuqù.

News is very interesting.

我闻到花香。

Wǒ wén dào huā xiāng.

I smell the flower fragrance.

你闻过这种味道吗？

Nǐ wén guò zhè zhǒng wèidào ma?

Have you smelled this kind of smell?

他闻名于全国。

Tā wén míng yú quánguó.

He is famous nationwide.

我每天看新闻。

Wǒ měi tiān kàn xīnwén.

I watch news every day.

闻到怪味，他检查了厨房。

Wén dào guài wèi, tā jiǎnchá le chúfáng.

Smelling a strange smell, he checked the kitchen.

新闻报导了这次重要事件。

Xīnwén bàodǎo le zhè cì zhòngyào shìjiàn.

The news reported this important event.

从未闻过如此美妙的气味。

Cóng wèi wén guò rúcǐ měimiào de qìwèi.

Never have I smelled such a wonderful smell.

Related Characters

Component: 耳

Component: 门

Example Words