How to write 读 (dú, “to read out”)
读, an HSK 1 character, is read dú for “to read out” and “to read”, and also dòu (“comma”). The traditional form is 讀, 22 strokes instead of 10. On its own it is an HSK 1 word; it also forms 读书 (“to read a book”), 读者 (“reader”) and 阅读 (“to read”). Japanese keeps the traditional 讀, read doku (“read”).
- Pinyin
- dú, dòu
- Strokes
- 10
- HSK
- 1
- Radical
- 讠 (“speech”)
- Traditional
- 讀
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
As a left-right character it splits into 讠 (“speech”, the radical), strokes 1–2; 卖 (“to sell”), strokes 3–10, written the left part first.
- top leftdown and right
- leftrightwards → downwards → up and right
- toprightwards
- topdownwards
- centerrightwards → down and left
- Dotcentera dot
- Dotcentera dot
- bottomrightwards
- centerdownwards → down and left
- bottom rightdown and right
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 读 · 10 strokes
- Traditional
- 讀 · 22 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| dú second tone | to read out; to read aloud; to read; to attend (school); to study (a subject in school); to pronounce | 讀 | 读书 读者 阅读 读音 |
| dòu fourth tone | comma; phrase marked by pause | 讀 | — |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 1
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 1 word
- Words with it
- 100 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 读
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 读 讀 | dú | to read out; to read aloud HSK 1 |
| 读书 讀書 | dúshū | to read a book; to study HSK 1 |
| 读者 讀者 | dúzhě | reader HSK 4 |
| 阅读 閱讀 | yuèdú | to read HSK 4 |
| 读音 讀音 | dúyīn | pronunciation; literary (rather than colloquial) pronunciation of a… HSK 5 |
| 就读 就讀 | jiùdú | to go to school HSK 6 |
| 解读 解讀 | jiědú | to decipher; to decode HSK 6 |
| 朗读 朗讀 | lǎngdú | to read aloud HSK 6 |
| 读物 讀物 | dúwù | reading material HSK 7-9 |
| 宣读 宣讀 | xuāndú | to read out loud to an audience; a prepared speech HSK 7-9 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several characters: worksheet maker.
Keep going
HSK 1, in list order: