# 洗耳恭听

xǐ ěr gōng tīng

Listen with respectful attention

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wash the ears and listen respectfully

**Traditional Chinese:** 洗耳恭聽

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Politely invite someone to explain or speak.

Sometimes playful or ironic; tone matters.

## Understanding the expression

Washing the ears imagines preparing them to receive words with special care. The expression signals that the listener is ready to pay respectful attention. It often appears as a polite invitation before advice, an explanation, or a performance. In friendly conversation it may be slightly theatrical, while a sarcastic tone can reverse the courtesy. It means being attentive, not automatically agreeing with every point the speaker makes.

## Examples

请讲，我洗耳恭听。

### Traditional Chinese

請講，我洗耳恭聽。

qǐng jiǎng ， wǒ xǐ ěr gōng tīng 。

Please go ahead; I am listening attentively.

您的建议，我们洗耳恭听。

### Traditional Chinese

您的建議，我們洗耳恭聽。

nín de jiàn yì ， wǒ men xǐ ěr gōng tīng 。

We are ready to hear your advice with respect.

她坐下来，洗耳恭听老师的解释。

### Traditional Chinese

她坐下來，洗耳恭聽老師的解釋。

tā zuò xià lái ， xǐ ěr gōng tīng lǎo shī de jiě shì 。

She sat down and listened respectfully to the teacher’s explanation.

你有新方案？我洗耳恭听。

### Traditional Chinese

你有新方案？我洗耳恭聽。

nǐ yǒu xīn fāng àn ？ wǒ xǐ ěr gōng tīng 。

You have a new proposal? I am all ears.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%B4%97%E8%80%B3%E6%81%AD%E8%81%BD)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=733&webMd=1&la=0)

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