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读
dú
What does "读" mean in English?
read我每天读一小时书。
I read for one hour every day.
How to use "读" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
formal
To look at and understand the meaning of written or printed characters or symbols.
他读完了那本书。
He finished reading that book.
请大声读出来。
Please read it aloud.
Used for both silent reading and reading aloud. Can also mean 'study' in certain contexts, e.g., 读书 (study).
formal
To study a subject, especially at a school or university.
她在哈佛读研究生。
She is studying for her graduate degree at Harvard.
Often paired with 书 (book) or 研究生 (graduate student).
formal
To pronounce or utter words.
老师让学生读课文。
The teacher asked the students to read the text aloud.
Focuses on the act of speaking written words.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 阅读
While 读 and 阅读 both mean 'read', 阅读 is more formal and often used in written contexts (e.g., 阅读理解 'reading comprehension'). 读 is more general and can refer to both reading aloud and silently.
Gold Rule
Reading vs. Studying
Use 读 to emphasize the act of reading or studying a subject. For example, 读书 means 'study' or 'read books', while 阅读 is more neutral and can refer to skimming or browsing.
Word Origin
From Old Chinese 讀 (*duɡ), related to the pronunciation of characters. The character combines 言 (speech) and 壹 (one, indicating completeness), suggesting the act of fully expressing written words.
Usage Notes
The verb 读 is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In modern Chinese, it often implies active engagement with text, such as studying or reciting, rather than passive viewing. The character is also used in compound words related to reading, such as 读者 (reader) and 读物 (reading material).
Word Breakdown
讠 (言)
speech; language
radical卖
to sell; originally 'to complete'
phonetic汉英词典