read
Meaning: To look at and understand written or printed words
Read means to look at and comprehend written or printed material. It has several additional meanings: to interpret or understand something in a particular way, to study a subject at university (British usage), or to indicate a measurement. The past tense is pronounced differently (/red/) but spelled the same as the present tense.
Examples
- I read the newspaper every morning. 我每天早上读报纸。Leo el periódico todas las mañanas.私は毎朝新聞を読みます。저는 매일 아침 신문을 읽습니다.
- She's reading law at Cambridge. 她在剑桥读法律。Ella estudia derecho en Cambridge.彼女はケンブリッジで法律を学んでいます。그녀는 케임브리지에서 법학을 공부하고 있습니다.
- The thermometer reads twenty-five degrees. 温度计显示二十五度。El termómetro marca veinticinco grados.温度計は25度を示しています。온도계가 25도를 가리키고 있습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Old English 'rǣdan' meaning 'to advise, to counsel, to interpret'. Originally about interpreting signs and giving counsel — the modern sense of deciphering written text developed as literacy spread.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Story & Trivia
In British English, 'to read' a subject at university means to study it formally. This usage dates back centuries when education focused on reading classical texts. Today, you might hear 'She's reading medicine at Oxford' rather than 'studying medicine.'
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