洗耳恭听 Listen attentively
Explanation
洗干净耳朵恭恭敬敬地听别人讲话。表示恭敬认真地倾听。常用作谦辞。
To clean one's ears and respectfully listen to others' speech. It expresses respectfully and attentively listening. Often used as a humble phrase.
Origin Story
传说尧帝想让位于隐士许由，派人去邀请他。许由坚决拒绝，觉得使者的话玷污了他的耳朵，便跑到颖水边洗耳朵。他的朋友巢父听说此事后，也牵着牛到上游饮水，以免污染牛的嘴。这个故事体现了许由的清高和对世俗的厌恶。
Legend has it that Emperor Yao wanted to cede his position to the hermit Xu You and sent someone to invite him. Xu You resolutely refused, feeling that the messenger's words had defiled his ears, so he ran to the Ying River to wash his ears. His friend Chao Fu, upon hearing this, also led his ox to the upper reaches of the river to avoid polluting the ox's mouth. This story reflects Xu You's noble character and aversion to the world.
Usage
用于表达认真倾听的态度，也常用于讽刺那些表面上认真听，实际上并不重视的人。
Used to express an attitude of attentive listening, also often used to satirize those who only listen superficially and do not actually take it seriously.
Examples
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老师讲课，我们洗耳恭听。
laoshi jiangke,women xi'er gongting.
We listened attentively as the teacher lectured.
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会议上，他洗耳恭听地听着领导的发言。
huiyi shang,ta xi'er gongting de tingzhe lingdao de fayan.
At the meeting, he listened attentively to the leader's speech.