耳 ěr — ear

Pinyin

• ěr (third tone, dipping)

ear

Character breakdown

• 耳shape partA single pictograph: the rim of the ear with the folds of the lobe inside it.

Mnemonic

An ear stood on end: the outer frame is the rim, the two bars inside are the folds of the lobe and the canal. It names the organ in 耳朵, and it is the ear being seized in 取 — a hand reaching for an ear. Note what does not contain it: the traditional 聽 "to listen" was built on this ear, but the simplified 听 was rebuilt around the mouth 口 instead.

A memory aid written by HSK Guide editors. It is not an etymology and does not describe the historical origin of the character.

Words containing 耳

• 耳朵ěrduo (third tone, dipping)ear