読む

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 本を読みます。▶ —
   I read a book.
2. 新聞を読んでいます。▶ —
   I am reading the newspaper.

Collocations

Mnemonic

読む yomu — godan -mu verb. te-form 読んで (-mu → -nde, same pattern as 飲む·飲んで). The nominalized 読み方 (yomikata, "way of reading") is common — when you don't know how to read a kanji: 読み方を教えてください ("Please teach me the reading").

Quick check

1. What is the natural way to ask how to read a kanji?

   • 読み方を教えてください (natural)
   • 発音を聞いてください (= "please listen to pronunciation", awkward)
   • 言って下さい (= "please say it", too direct)
   • 読む方法は何ですか (overly literal)