听说 (tīng shuō) is a verb meaning 'to hear (that)' or 'reportedly' — it conveys secondhand information, not something the speaker witnessed directly. The character 听 means 'to listen/hear', and 说 means 'to speak/say'; together, they literally suggest 'hearing what someone says', emphasizing information received orally or through informal channels. It’s commonly used to introduce hearsay, rumors, news, or unconfirmed facts in everyday conversation and writing.

This word often appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause, followed by a statement (e.g., 听说他辞职了). It carries a neutral-to-cautious tone — implying the speaker isn’t vouching for the truth, just relaying what was heard. Unlike formal reporting verbs like 据报道 (jù bàodào), 听说 is conversational and widely used among friends, family, or colleagues when sharing updates or gossip.