读书 dú shū
“to read a book; to study; to attend school”
verb, verb / noun2021 list level 1Traditional 讀書
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
读书 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 43: 读书 dúshū — Level 1; official annotation 1 (动). PDF page 81
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 读书
读书 is a verb-object compound meaning "to read (books)", often used alone or with a duration/frequency phrase (每天读书一小时、读了很多书). It also means "to study / attend school", typically in the pattern 在+place+读书 (他在北京读书). Because it already contains the object 书, you do not add another object after it; the separable form allows 读了三年书、读过书.
例句Example sentences
- 我妹妹喜欢读书，也喜欢画画。wǒ mèi mei xǐ huan dú shū, yě xǐ huan huà huà.My younger sister likes reading and also likes drawing.
- 他在上海读书，明年就毕业了。tā zài shàng hǎi dú shū, míng nián jiù bì yè le.He is studying in Shanghai and will graduate next year.
- 坚持读书，你会慢慢发现自己变了。jiān chí dú shū, nǐ huì màn màn fā xiàn zì jǐ biàn le.If you keep reading, you'll gradually notice that you have changed.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我昨天读书了两本书。
✓我昨天读了两本书。
读书 is a verb-object compound and 书 is already its object, so it cannot take another object such as 两本书. Say 读了两本书 or 读了两个小时的书.
易混词Easily confused
读书vs看书
看书 focuses on the physical act of looking at a book (安静地看书); 读书 is broader — it can mean reading/studying books in general, reading aloud, or attending school (在北大读书). 看书 cannot mean "attend school".