读

讀

dòu, dú

卖 + 讠

HSK 2.0Level 1

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

dú (verb) to read; to study

dòu (noun) pause; break in reading

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 𧸇 represents the sound. Simplified form of 讀.

About

读, simplified from the traditional 讀, is a phono-semantic compound character: the left side "讠" (derived from "言") suggests the meaning of language or speaking, while the right side "卖" (the traditional phonetic component being "𧸇") indicates the pronunciation. Its original meaning is to recite or read aloud, which later naturally extended to mean studying or attending school. The original meaning of the phonetic component "𧸇/卖" is to sell, but here it solely provides the sound, whereas the speech radical accurately reflects the spoken nature of reading aloud.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我每天都读书。

Wǒ měitiān dōu dú shū.

I read books every day.

他在图书馆读报。

Tā zài túshūguǎn dú bào.

He reads newspapers in the library.

我读完了那本小说。

Wǒ dú wán le nà běn xiǎoshuō.

I have finished reading that novel.

她喜欢阅读历史故事。

Tā xǐhuān yuèdú lìshǐ gùshi.

She enjoys reading historical stories.

认真阅读这份说明书。

Rènzhēn yuèdú zhè fèn shuōmíngshū.

Read this instruction manual carefully.

读者对这本书评价很高。

Dúzhě duì zhè běn shū píngjià hěn gāo.

Readers rate this book very highly.

这本书值得仔细读一读。

Zhè běn shū zhídé zǐxì dú yī dú.

This book is worth reading carefully.

反复阅读能够加深理解。

Fǎnfù yuèdú nénggòu jiāshēn lǐjiě.

Repeated reading can deepen comprehension.

Related Characters

Component: 卖

Component: 讠

读