听众 literally means 'listening crowd' — 听 (tīng) means 'to listen', and 众 (zhòng) means 'crowd' or 'many people'. Together, they refer to the group of people who are listening to something: a speech, concert, podcast, lecture, or broadcast. Unlike 观众 (guānzhòng), which emphasizes watching (e.g., at a film or theater), 听众 specifically highlights the auditory dimension — it’s used when the primary mode of reception is hearing.

This term is formal but common in media, education, and public speaking contexts. It’s often found in phrases like '听众朋友' (audience friends — a warm, broadcast-style address) or '扩大听众群' (expand one’s audience base). While it can refer to any group of listeners, it typically implies an organized or intentional act of listening, not casual overhearing. It’s neutral in register and widely appropriate in both written and spoken standard Mandarin.