阅览室

• Pinyin: yuè lǎn shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 阅 = 门 + 兑, to read/review; 览 = to view; 室 = room

Meaning

Reading room. A room in a library or institution for reading materials on-site.

Different from 借书处 (book lending area); materials in 阅览室 typically cannot be borrowed. Found in libraries, schools, and offices. Types include: 期刊阅览室 (periodicals reading room), 电子阅览室 (e-reading room).

Examples

1. 图书馆的阅览室每天早上八点开门。 The library reading room opens at eight every morning.
2. 这些杂志只能在阅览室里看，不能借走。 These magazines can only be read in the reading room, not borrowed.
3. 他每天下午都在阅览室学习。 He studies in the reading room every afternoon.

Usage Guide

Context: library, school, study

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 阅览室里请保持安静。(Please keep quiet in the reading room.)
• 电子阅览室有几台电脑？(How many computers are in the e-reading room?)

Don't Say

• 去阅览室借书 (阅览室 is for reading on-site; for borrowing, go to 借书处)

Origin & History

Compound of 阅览 (to read, to review) and 室 (room). A room for reading.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal