濫読

• Reading: らんどく
• Romaji: randoku
• Kanji breakdown: 濫 (ran) — excessive, overflowing, indiscriminate; 読 (doku/yomu) — to read
• Pronunciation: /ɾa.n.do.kɯ/

Meaning

Reading indiscriminately; consuming many books widely without order or careful selection. Reading voraciously but without a systematic approach.

A Sino-Japanese compound noun and suru-verb (濫読する). 濫読 can be used neutrally or slightly pejoratively to describe the habit of reading extensively without careful selection. In some contexts it is praised as intellectual breadth; in others it is contrasted with 精読 (seidoku, close/careful reading), which involves deep engagement with fewer texts. The character 濫 suggests excess or overflow. Also written 乱読 (same pronunciation), which is more common in modern usage.

Examples

1. 彼は学生時代から濫読の癖があり、本棚は雑多な本で溢れている。 He has had a habit of indiscriminate reading since his student days, and his bookshelf overflows with a jumble of books.
2. 良書を精読する派と濫読する派では、文学への接し方が根本的に異なる。 The approach to literature differs fundamentally between those who favour close reading of good books and those who read indiscriminately.
3. 濫読の中から自分の好みの作家を見つけていくのも読書の楽しみの一つだ。 Finding one's favourite authors through wide, indiscriminate reading is also one of the pleasures of reading.

Usage Guide

Context: literary discussion, reading habits, education, intellectual life

Tone: descriptive, mildly critical or admiring depending on context

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound: 濫 (ran) means excessive, overflowing, or indiscriminate; 読 (doku) means reading. The compound conveys reading that overflows its banks — wide-ranging but without careful selectivity or direction.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: Educated