<p>The full sentence should be "空山不见人，但闻人语响。", in which “响” is the simplified version of "響".</p>

<p>Obviously, it should mean "sound or echo" for in the first sentence the author said that he did not see anybody in the mountain and in the second sentences there is a turning point marked by "但", which can be understood as "but". After this turning point he said he could hear the "sound or echo" of words of people. </p>

<p>(You can replace "sound or echo" with "want" and the sentence will not make sense if you do)
I guess you may confuse "响" with “想” as their sound are the same.</p>

<p>By the way, I prefer "echo" than "sound" as he did not see the people but just caught the words in the wind and this poem tends to create an atmosphere of serenity.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-08T06:47:41.190Z
但 here doesn't mean "but", but "only". That sentence is a well-known example for the "只闻其声不见其人" atmosphere.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-08T08:37:41.267Z
Well, maybe you are right. I have never considered it as an example for "只闻其声不见其人"
北海扶桑
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-08T01:26:25.503Z
2016-03-08T05:16:16.393Z
2016-03-08T05:16:16.393Z
北海扶桑
<p>I am reading this set of poems for my humanities class. One of the lines is:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jrn44m.jpg" alt="但聞人語響"></p>

<p>Supposedly, the last character is xiang with a third tone and it means to "sound" or "echo".</p>

<p>But I thought this character means "want", as in 想.</p>

<p>Can someone clarify what xiang (third tone) means? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-07T21:23:09.940Z
searching web with ＂但闻人语响＂ yields many hits，supplying answer, consult dictionary about 响
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-07T22:17:37.810Z
It's 響 (simplified 响), it means 'to emit a sound'.  Try also image search, ton's of results, e.g. http://cul.china.com.cn/zt/dfjx/images/attachement/jpg/site449/20110927/6c626d0c3fc20feba7732a.jpg A lot of questions about the interpretation of the poem from which this line comes from, search for it, e.g. http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1819077542387704388.html
imrek
<meaning><mandarin><vocabulary><characters>
Does xiang (third tone) mean "want" or "echo"?
# Does xiang (third tone) mean "want" or "echo"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-03-07)

I am reading this set of poems for my humanities class. One of the lines is:

![但聞人語響](https://i.sstatic.net/jrn44m.jpg)

Supposedly, the last character is xiang with a third tone and it means to "sound" or "echo".

But I thought this character means "want", as in 想.

Can someone clarify what xiang (third tone) means?

**Tags:** meaning, mandarin, vocabulary, characters
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: searching web with ＂但闻人语响＂ yields many hits，supplying answer, consult dictionary about 响  
> **username_2**: It's 響 (simplified 响), it means 'to emit a sound'.  Try also image search, ton's of results, e.g. http://cul.china.com.cn/zt/dfjx/images/attachement/jpg/site449/20110927/6c626d0c3fc20feba7732a.jpg A lot of questions about the interpretation of the poem from which this line comes from, search for it, e.g. http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1819077542387704388.html  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-03-08. Score: 2

The full sentence should be "空山不见人，但闻人语响。", in which “响” is the simplified version of "響".

Obviously, it should mean "sound or echo" for in the first sentence the author said that he did not see anybody in the mountain and in the second sentences there is a turning point marked by "但", which can be understood as "but". After this turning point he said he could hear the "sound or echo" of words of people.

(You can replace "sound or echo" with "want" and the sentence will not make sense if you do)
I guess you may confuse "响" with “想” as their sound are the same.

By the way, I prefer "echo" than "sound" as he did not see the people but just caught the words in the wind and this poem tends to create an atmosphere of serenity.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 但 here doesn't mean "but", but "only". That sentence is a well-known example for the "只闻其声不见其人" atmosphere.  
> **username_3**: Well, maybe you are right. I have never considered it as an example for "只闻其声不见其人"  

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