精読

• Reading: せいどく
• Romaji: seidoku
• Kanji breakdown: 精 (sei) — careful, refined, thorough; 読 (doku) — reading
• Pronunciation: /se.i.do.kɯ/

Meaning

Close reading; careful reading; intensive reading. The practice of reading a text slowly and attentively to fully understand its meaning, nuances, and structure.

A noun and verb (精読する). Contrasts with 速読 (sokudoku — speed reading). In literary studies, 精読 refers to a methodology of close analysis that examines language, imagery, and rhetoric in depth. In language learning, it denotes thorough comprehension work on a text, often with dictionary use and annotation. Common in academic, legal, and literary contexts where precision is paramount.

Examples

1. この条約の文言は精読しないと、含意を見落としてしまう。 If you don't closely read the wording of this treaty, you'll miss its implications.
2. 難解な古典を精読することで、語彙力が格段に伸びた。 My vocabulary improved dramatically through close reading of difficult classical texts.
3. ゼミでは毎週論文を一本精読し、全員で議論する。 In our seminar, we closely read one academic paper each week and discuss it as a group.

Usage Guide

Context: academia, literature, language learning

Tone: scholarly

Origin & History

From 精 (sei — careful, thorough, refined) and 読 (doku — reading). The character 精 carries the sense of doing something with great care and refinement — making 精読 mean reading with full, undivided attention.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Students, scholars

Social background: Academic