listen, headstrong, naughty, careful inquiry
聴 centers on attentive listening: hearing carefully, inquiring thoroughly, or paying close attention. The meanings 'headstrong' and 'naughty' are less common and may reflect a separate usage where one listens only to oneself.
聴 is the modern simplified form of 聰. The older form combines 耳 (ear) with a phonetic component that also carried the idea of intelligence or quickness, suggesting keen listening. The modern simplification replaces the right side with a simpler shape.
The left side is an ear 耳, and the right side looks like a person leaning in with a focused expression. Picture someone cupping their ear and leaning forward to listen carefully to every word.
For チョウ, imagine a long-eared rabbit named Chou who listens intently to every sound: Chou -> チョウ, and those big ears are always listening.
looking and listening; (television) viewing; watching
hearing (of a statement, opinion, explanation, etc.); asking; questioning (e.g. a suspect); enquiry
interception (email); wiretap; bug
(sense of) hearing; auditory perception
hardness of hearing; bradyacusia; deafness; hearing loss
trial listening (e.g. to a record before buying); audition
audience; attendance; hearers
public consultation; public information
listening (to a lecture, hearing, parliament session, etc.); attending (without participating); sitting in (e.g. on a meeting); observing
hearing aid
auditory hallucination
hearing ability
spreading around (news, rumor, etc.); making widely known; making public; publicizing; proclaiming
listening; hearing
auscultation; listening to a person's chest with a stethoscope
senses of seeing and hearing; audiovisual
must-listen
listening respectfully
listening closely
lecture attendance; auditing