Chinese Conversation · Level 8
90 words
Chinese word
读
Pronunciation
Pinyindú
Meaning
- verbread
Example
我喜欢读小说。wǒ xǐ huān dú xiǎo shuō
I like to read novels.
More examples
他在图书馆读书。tā zài tú shū guǎn dú shū
He is reading books in the library.
Core concept
Written marks become understood through the eyes or the voice.
Common phrases
读中文dú zhōng wén
read Chinese
读书dú shū
read books
Similar words
看kàn: Looking at something or visual information to learn what it shows or means.
听tīng: Listening to sounds or spoken words to understand their meaning.
写xiě: Writing characters or symbols by hand or with a tool to express an idea.
朗读lǎng dú: Reading written words aloud so they can be heard and understood.
Definition in Chinese
把书或文章的文字大声或默读出来，以获取信息或理解内容。bǎ shū huò wén zhāng de wén zì dà shēng huò mò dú chū lái yǐ huò qǔ xìn xī huò lí jiě nèi róng
Word origin
The modern simplified form keeps 讠 (yán, "speech") + 卖 (mài, "sell") from an older character, using the first part for meaning and the second for sound.
Usage tips
- A menu, sign, message, or set of numbers can all be things this verb handles, so its use extends beyond storybooks.