About
The character "聪" derives from its traditional form "聰", which structurally integrates the ear radical (耳) with the component "悤", conveying a sense of haste or quickness, thus originally referring to acute auditory perception. This foundation in physical hearing gradually extended to metaphorically represent mental sharpness and intellectual ability, marking a semantic shift from sensory capacity to cognitive prowess. The simplified form "聪" maintains the ear radical but substitutes the right side with "总", a change that prioritizes phonetic approximation in modern pronunciation while obscuring the original etymological link to swiftness. Over centuries, the character's meaning has consistently centered on perceptiveness, evolving from a specific focus on hearing to a broader application describing quick understanding and intelligence.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他非常聪明。
这个女孩聪明又可爱。
聪明的人学得快。
他虽然聪明，但是很懒惰。
她不认为自己聪明。
你怎么知道他很聪明？
在课堂上，他总是表现出惊人的聪明。
尽管他天生聪颖，但仍需要努力学习才能成功。