'旁听' literally means 'listen from the side' — combining 旁 (páng, 'side' or 'aside') and 听 (tīng, 'to listen'). As a verb, it specifically refers to attending a class or lecture without formal enrollment or credit, i.e., auditing. It implies passive, non-degree-seeking participation: the listener sits in on instruction but doesn’t submit assignments, take exams, or earn academic credit. This usage is common in universities, professional training, and open-learning environments.

The term carries a neutral-to-formal register and is widely understood across Chinese-speaking regions. While it can occasionally describe eavesdropping in literary contexts, in modern standard usage — especially in education, media, and official documents — it almost exclusively denotes authorized, respectful auditing of courses. The action often requires permission from the instructor or institution, though some classes are explicitly advertised as 'open to旁听'.