读 dú — read · English

读

dú

read

At a glance · 读

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

繁体「讀」从言，賣声，本义为诵读。简体「读」同。形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为读书、讽诵文字。

Structure

形声字，从言（意符，出声诵读），賣（dú）为声符。

At a glance

Pinyindú

Radical讠

Strokes10

UnicodeU+8BFB

Character type形声

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English read To read or recite text.

Français lire Lire ou réciter un texte.

Español leer Leer o recitar un texto.

العربية يقرأ يقرأ أو يتلو نصاً.

Русский читать Читать или декламировать текст.

Common words

读书dú shūread
读dúread

◉ Listen