Chinese word

默读

Pronunciation

Pinyinmò dú

Meaning

  • verbread silently

Example

上课前请把课文默读一遍。shàng kè qián qǐng bǎ kè wén mò dú yí biàn

Before class, please read the text silently once.

Illustration for 默读 (read silently)

More examples

出门前她常常把短信默读一遍以确认内容。chū mén qián tā cháng cháng bǎ duǎn xìn mò dú yí biàn yǐ què rèn nèi róng

Before going out, she often reads her text messages silently once to confirm their content.

Core concept

Reading with the voice kept inside, using the eyes to take in written meaning.

Common phrases

  • 默读课文mò dú kè wén

    read the text silently

  • 默读一遍mò dú yí biàn

    read silently once

  • 默读文章mò dú wén zhāng

    read an article silently

Similar words

阅读yuè dú: Reading written words to understand their content or information.
朗读lǎng dú: Reading a passage aloud to practice pronunciation and intonation or convey its content.
背诵bèi sòng: Reciting memorized text or phrases accurately.
朗诵lǎng sòng: Reciting poetry or prose aloud with feeling and expression for listeners.

Definition in Chinese

不出声地用眼睛阅读课文或文章，以理解内容、记忆要点或快速把握大意。bù chū shēng dì yòng yǎn jīng yuè dú kè wén huò wén zhāng yǐ lí jiě nèi róng jì yì yào diǎn huò kuài sù bǎ wò dà yì

Word origin

默 (mò, "silent") + 读 (dú, "read") combines the absence of speech with the act of reading.

Usage tips

  • English often leaves silent reading unmarked because reading usually implies quiet reading, while Chinese uses this word to make the distinction explicit.

Opposites

Related words

  • 默读法mò dú fǎsilent-reading methodnoun
  • 默读训练mò dú xùn liànsilent-reading trainingnoun

Word lists with this word