Japanese word

立ち読み

Pronunciation

Romajitachiyomi

Meaning

  • nounreading while standing

Example

私は本屋で立ち読みします。watashi wa hon ya de ta chi yo mi shi ma su

I read while standing at the bookstore.

Illustration for 立ち読み (reading while standing)

More examples

立ち読みだけで済ませず、気に入った本は買いましょう。ta chi yo mi da ke de su ma se zu ki ni hai tta hon wa ka i ma shō

Let us not settle for browsing alone; let us buy the books we like.

Core concept

Expresses the act of examining written material by reading it without sitting down, especially before choosing to buy it.

Common phrases

  • 立ち読みするta chi yo mi su ru

    read while standing

  • 立ち読みで済ませるta chi yo mi de su ma se ru

    settle for browsing

  • 立ち読み禁止ta chi yo mi kin shi

    no browsing

Similar words

試し読みtameshiyomi: Reading part of a book or other material to judge whether it is worth reading or buying.
流し読みnagashiyomi: Reading written material quickly without examining every detail.
拾い読みhiroiyomi: Reading only selected parts of written material rather than the whole text.

Definition in Japanese

店内で本を手に取り、座らずに内容を読むこと。ten nai de hon o te ni to ri suwa ra zu ni nai yō o yo mu ko to

Word origin

立つ (tatsu, "to stand") changes to 立ち (tachi), and 読む (yomu, "to read") changes to 読み (yomi); the two forms join in 立ち読み (tachiyomi), "reading while standing".

Usage tips

  • Bookstore notices may use 立ち読み (tachiyomi) when stating whether customers may read books while standing in the shop.

Other meanings

  • browsingnoun

Word lists with this word