Definition
置若罔闻 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to completely ignore something, as if one hadn't heard it at all'. The literal breakdown is 置 'put aside', 若 'as if', 罔 'not', 闻 'hear' — so 'put aside as if not heard'. It's used as a predicate, often with 对 (toward) introducing the thing being ignored. The tone is critical: it implies the person deliberately chooses not to respond or take action.
f.e.
to turn a deaf ear toto completely ignore (advice, warnings, requests)
Examples
- 置若罔闻，。Tā duì lǎoshī de jǐnggào zhì ruò wǎng wén, jiéguǒ kǎoshì bù jígé.He turned a deaf ear to the teacher's warning, and as a result, he failed the exam.
- ，置若罔闻。Gōngsī duō cì yāoqiú zhěnggǎi, dàn zérénrén zhì ruò wǎng wén.The company repeatedly demanded corrective action, but the person in charge paid no heed.
- ，置若罔闻。Duìyú qúnzhòng de hūshēng, mǒuxiē guānyuán zhì ruò wǎng wén.Some officials turn a deaf ear to the voices of the people.
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