Meanings of 读
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About 读
Podcast: 读
Podcast: 读
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AI Study Notes for 读
读 (dú) vs 看 (kàn) — use 读 when referring specifically to reading or studying text, while 看 refers to looking at or watching something.
Be careful not to confuse 读 (dòu) with 读音 (dú yīn), which specifically means 'pronunciation.' In informal contexts, you can use 读 casually when talking about reading for pleasure, but in formal writing, use it for academic or serious contexts. Remember to use the correct tone (dòu) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
As an HSK Level 1 word, 读 connects with other basic verbs related to actions, like 写 (xiě - to write) and 说 (shuō - to speak). Focus on using 读 in simple sentences to describe activities, such as '我读书' (wǒ dú shū - I read books).
Learners often mistakenly use 读 (dòu) in contexts where they should use 读书 (dú shū) to mean 'to read books.' For example, saying '我读' (wǒ dòu) without context is vague; it's better to say '我读书' (wǒ dú shū) to specify the action.
Pronunciation of 读
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Etymology of 读
Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 卖 represents the sound. Simplified form of 讀.
To show off 卖 one's literacy 讠
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 读
Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 卖 represents the sound. Simplified form of 讀.
- 1The giveawayTo show off 卖 one's literacy 讠
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 读? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 读
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How to say to read in Chinese
“to read” in Chinese is读
The character 读 (dòu) primarily means 'to read' or 'to study.' It is commonly used in contexts related to learning, reading books, or pronouncing words. The character can also refer to the pronunciation of a word, similar to how 拼音 (pīn yīn) is used in Mandarin.
When to use 读
Be careful not to confuse 读 (dòu) with 读音 (dú yīn), which specifically means 'pronunciation.' In informal contexts, you can use 读 casually when talking about reading for pleasure, but in formal writing, use it for academic or serious contexts. Remember to use the correct tone (dòu) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
读 or something close to it
读 (dú) vs 看 (kàn) — use 读 when referring specifically to reading or studying text, while 看 refers to looking at or watching something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 读 (dòu) in contexts where they should use 读书 (dú shū) to mean 'to read books.' For example, saying '我读' (wǒ dòu) without context is vague; it's better to say '我读书' (wǒ dú shū) to specify the action.
Write 读
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Practice writing 读 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 读
读 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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Example Sentences for 读 (16)
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I read the newspaper every morning.
Word Family of 读
Compound Meaning
What does 读 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 读
读 is pronounced as 'dòu' with a falling tone.
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