Nuance & Usage
読む is the standard verb for reading. It applies to books, newspapers, signs, emails, and more. The て-form is 読んで (yonde). Common expressions: 本を読む (read a book), 声に出して読む (read aloud), 読書 (dokusho — reading as a hobby). A secondary meaning is "to read" a situation or someone's intentions: 空気を読む (kuuki o yomu — read the room/atmosphere), a concept deeply valued in Japanese social interaction.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 見る (miru — to see/look at) instead of 読む for reading text. While 見る works for briefly glancing at something, 読む is correct for actually reading content. Also, 読んで (yonde) sounds identical to 呼んで (yonde — to call), so context is key. The expression 空気を読む is culturally important — not understanding it (KY = 空気読めない) is a common social faux pas in Japan.
Example Sentences (3)
毎晩、寝る前に本を読みます。
まいばん、ねるまえにほんをよみます。
I read a book every night before bed.
この漢字は何と読みますか？
このかんじはなんとよみますか？
How do you read this kanji?
新聞を読む時間がありません。
しんぶんをよむじかんがありません。
I don't have time to read the newspaper.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 読む with 4 different question types.
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