Chinese–EnglishWith examples

读书

dú shū · du shu

Traditional 讀書

HSK 1

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to read a book
  2. to study
  3. to attend school
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In a conversation

0:14 cartoon

Is she reading?

  1. Liangliang

    琦琦(qíqí)在(zài)长椅(chángyǐ)上(shàng)读书(dúshū)呢(ne)，别(bié)吵(chǎo)她(tā)。

    Qiqi is reading on the bench. Do not disturb her.

  2. Dengdeng

    她(tā)读书(dúshū)的(de)时候(shíhou)，真(zhēn)安静(ānjìng)。

    She is so quiet when she reads.

  3. Qiqi

    我(wǒ)没(méi)在(zài)读书(dúshū)，我(wǒ)在(zài)睡觉(shuìjiào)。

    I am not reading. I am sleeping.

  4. Liangliang

    那(nà)你(nǐ)为什么(wèishénme)拿着(názhe)书(shū)？

    Then why do you hold a book?

  5. Qiqi

    书(shū)只是(zhǐshì)用来(yònglái)挡(dǎng)太阳(tàiyang)的(de)！

    The book just keeps the sun off my face!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)去(qù)巴(bā)黎(lí)读(dú)书(shū)之(zhī)前(qián)要(yào)先(xiān)练(liàn)好(hǎo)我(wǒ)的(de)法(fǎ)文(wén)。

I have to brush up my French before I go to Paris to study.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CN · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)从(cóng)小(xiǎo)就(jiù)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)一(yí)个(gè)人(rén)安(ān)静(jìng)地(de)读(dú)书(shū)。

Since childhood, he has liked reading quietly by himself.

Sources & licenses

How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
读
dú

to read out; to read aloud; to read

书
shū

book; letter

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with DExplore words in context