To read aloud or recite text with clear pronunciation.
To read, study, or attend school. Speech radical 讠 beside 卖 (sell): your voice sells the words you read aloud.
读
Common Usage & Traps
- 读书 — read a book; study
- 读一读 — read a little; have a read
- 读字 — read characters aloud
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读电视看电视Watching TV uses 看, not 读. 读 is only for text.
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读音乐听音乐Music is listened to with 听, not read with 读.
When should I use 读 instead of 看 for reading?
Use 读 for reading aloud or studying text; use 看 for silent reading or looking at things.
读 emphasizes the act of reading words aloud or studying, while 看 focuses on visually perceiving something, including silent reading. For example, 读书 often means to read aloud or study, while 看书 means to read a book silently.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Reading aloud | 读书 | 看书 (if aloud) |
| Silent reading | 看书 | 读书 (if silent) |
| Watching TV | 看电视 | 读电视 |
How do I avoid confusing 读 and 卖?
读 has the speech radical 讠 on the left; 卖 has 十 on top and 买 below.
读 and 卖 look similar because they share the right component, but 读 has 讠 (speech) on the left, indicating reading. 卖 means 'sell' and has a different structure. Remember: if it has 讠, it's about words and reading.
| Dimension | 读 | 卖 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | read | sell |
| Left component | 讠 (speech) | none |
| Example | 读书 (read a book) | 卖书 (sell books) |
Appears in Stories 5 stories
This playful poem turns numbers into a rhythm of daily life. As you read, practice counting, days of the week, and common time words in a fun, memorable way.
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工作两三年，休息四五天， 读书 一小时，吃饭五分钟。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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汉语是“说汉语”，也可以“听汉语”；但是中文是“ 读 中文”，中文和汉字都是眼睛在看。
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
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人人爱学习，天天去学校，上午 读读书 ，下午写写字。
This simple story introduces you to a family and what each member likes to do. Learn helpful words for food and daily activities as you read about Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and the kids.
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弟弟想 读书 。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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他除了做饼干、卖饼干，还爱 读 一点书，喜欢与人讨论政治制度。
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