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閱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
閱yuèto examine, to inspect; to read, to reviewzg, 15 strokes, radical 門
yuè(yue4) T4
  1. 1to examine, to inspect; to read, to review
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

閱yuè(yue4)

The character 閱 (yuè) primarily means 'to examine' or 'to read.' It is often used in contexts related to reviewing documents or reading literature, emphasizing a careful and thorough process. This character conveys a sense of scrutiny and attention to detail, making it common in formal scenarios such as academic or legal settings.

Strokes15Radical門
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, reading and examining texts has a long history, especially in the context of classical literature and philosophy. The character 閱 reflects the traditional emphasis on scholarship and the importance of thorough understanding in academic pursuits.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing in front of a large gate (the radical 門) with a book in hand, examining it closely. The sound 'yuè' can remind you of 'you at the gate', as if you are reading something important right before entering.

Meanings of 閱

yuè(yue4)
1to examine, to inspect; to read, to review
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 閱

閱Simplified
15Strokes
門Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 閱

JasonAmy

Podcast: 閱

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 閱

Quick Contrast

讀 (dú, to read) — use 閱 (yuè) for formal or thorough reading contexts, while 讀 (dú) is more general and can refer to reading aloud or casually.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 閱 as 'yuè' (fourth tone), as mispronunciation may lead to confusion with other characters. It is typically used in more formal contexts, and learners should note its common collocations with words like '書' (book) and '報告' (report).

HSK Study Tips

Although 閱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other reading-related words like 讀 (dú - to read) and 書 (shū - book), which are essential at lower levels. Focus on understanding its usage in phrases and contexts to build a stronger vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 閱 with 讀, using them interchangeably in contexts where only one is appropriate, such as using 讀 in a formal report. Remember that 閱 is more suitable for formal examination or review contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 閱

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Etymology of 閱

Explanation

Simplified form of 閱. Phonosemantic compound. 門 represents the meaning and 兌 represents the sound.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 閱

Simplified form of 閱. Phonosemantic compound. 門 represents the meaning and 兌 represents the sound.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 閱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 閱?

Decomposition of 閱

IDS Structure⿵門兌
閱Full Character
=
門men2
enclosing
兌dui4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 閱?

How to say to examine, to inspect; to read, to review in Chinese

“to examine, to inspect; to read, to review” in Chinese is閱yuè

The character 閱 (yuè) primarily means 'to examine' or 'to read.' It is often used in contexts related to reviewing documents or reading literature, emphasizing a careful and thorough process. This character conveys a sense of scrutiny and attention to detail, making it common in formal scenarios such as academic or legal settings.

When to use 閱

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 閱 as 'yuè' (fourth tone), as mispronunciation may lead to confusion with other characters. It is typically used in more formal contexts, and learners should note its common collocations with words like '書' (book) and '報告' (report).

閱 or something close to it

讀 (dú, to read) — use 閱 (yuè) for formal or thorough reading contexts, while 讀 (dú) is more general and can refer to reading aloud or casually.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 閱 with 讀, using them interchangeably in contexts where only one is appropriate, such as using 讀 in a formal report. Remember that 閱 is more suitable for formal examination or review contexts.

Write 閱

閱

Practice writing 閱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 閱

Words Containing This Character20
阅读yuèdúto read閱讀
查阅to consult查閱
订阅subscription訂閱
阅yuèto inspect閱
阅历yuèlìto experience閱歷
检阅to inspect檢閱
翻阅to thumb through翻閱
审阅to review or peruse審閱
阅兵to review troops閱兵
阅览室yuèlǎnshìreading room閱覽室
阅卷to grade exam papers閱卷
传阅to read and pass on傳閱
参阅to consult參閱
借阅to borrow books to read借閱
阅兵式military parade閱兵式
阅览to read閱覽
调阅to consult調閱
阅读器reader (software)閱讀器
批阅to referee批閱
评阅to read and appraise評閱
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 阅读 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 閱

While both mean 'to read,' 閱 implies a more careful examination or review, often in formal contexts, whereas 讀 is more general and can refer to reading for pleasure.

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