山
海Shanhai StoryChinese stories for learners
Saved words
Menu
Stories/Chinese folklore/Covering One's Ears While Stealing a Bell
HSK 3 Chinese reading practice

掩耳盗铃

yǎn ěr dào líng

Covering One's Ears While Stealing a Bell

A thief covers his own ears and imagines that nobody else can hear the bell.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 3
READ3 min
HANZI70
Reading tools
Text size
文化
CULTURE

Closing your ears does not stop the sound

The ancient fable behind 掩耳盗铃 describes a man who deceives himself and then expects everyone else to share his illusion. The idiom now criticizes obvious self-deception.

Key vocabulary6 words from this story
Open vocabulary →
阅读理解 · COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01那个人想拿走什么？
02他为什么把手放在耳朵上？
03他拿铃时发生了什么？
0 / 3questions answered
阅读练习完成

You finished the story.

Keep reading at the same level to build speed and confidence.

Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 掩耳盗铃

What does 掩耳盗铃 mean in English?

掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng) literally means “cover one’s ears while stealing a bell.” It describes deceiving oneself by pretending an obvious fact cannot be noticed.

When is 掩耳盗铃 used?

Use 掩耳盗铃 when someone hides a problem from themselves but not from anyone else. For example: Deleting the warning email does not remove the debt; it is simply 掩耳盗铃.

What is the pinyin for 掩耳盗铃?

The pinyin pronunciation for 掩耳盗铃 is “yǎn ěr dào líng.”