读音

• Pinyin: dú yīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 读 (dú) — to read; 音 (yīn) — sound, pronunciation

Meaning

Pronunciation. The way a Chinese character or word is read aloud.

Specifically refers to how characters are pronounced. Many Chinese characters have multiple readings (多音字). Commonly encountered in language learning and dictionary contexts.

Examples

1. 这个字的读音是什么？ What is the pronunciation of this character?
2. 老师教了我们每个字的正确读音。 The teacher taught us the correct pronunciation of each character.
3. 有些汉字有两个不同的读音。 Some Chinese characters have two different pronunciations.

Usage Guide

Context: language learning, education, dictionaries

Tone: academic

Do Say

• 请告诉我这个字的读音。(Please tell me the pronunciation of this character.)
• 这两个字的读音一样。(These two characters have the same pronunciation.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'读音'和'发音' — 读音 specifically refers to the correct pronunciation of a character as listed in dictionaries, while 发音 is the broader concept of how sounds are produced.

Origin & History

Compound of 读 (to read) and 音 (sound). Literally 'reading sound' — the sound produced when reading a character.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal