动听

dòngtīng

pleasant to listen to

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The adjective 动听 (dòngtīng) describes sounds that are pleasant, charming, or captivating to the ear. It is often used to praise voices, music, stories, or poetry that emotionally move the listener.

Common Contexts

  • Describing a melodious or attractive singing voice.
  • Complimenting well-written poetry or prose that resonates emotionally.
  • Referring to engaging storytelling that holds the audience's attention.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 动听歌声 (pleasant singing voice): used to praise someone's singing.
  • 动听故事 (captivating story): used when a story is told in an engaging way.
  • 动听 (written beautifully): often used for poetry or prose.

Nuances

动听 emphasizes the emotional appeal and pleasantness of what is heard. It is more subjective and expressive than simply 'nice' or 'good.' It is not used for sounds that are merely loud or clear but specifically for those that delight the listener.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 动听 with 好听 (hǎotīng), which also means 'pleasant to hear.' 动听 often carries a stronger emotional or artistic connotation, while 好听 is more general and can be used for any sound that is agreeable.

Example Sentences

她的歌声非常动听,吸引了很多听众。

Tā de gēshēng fēicháng dòngtīng, xīyǐnle hěn duō tīngzhòng.

Her singing voice is very pleasant to hear and attracted many listeners.

这首诗写得很动听,表达了作者深厚的感情。

Zhè shǒu shī xiě de hěn dòngtīng, biǎodále zuòzhě shēnhòu de gǎnqíng.

This poem is beautifully written and expresses the author's deep feelings.

他讲的故事很动听,让大家都听得入迷了。

Tā jiǎng de gùshì hěn dòngtīng, ràng dàjiā dōu tīng de rùmí le.

The story he told was very captivating, making everyone listen attentively.