읽다
ikda[ik̚t͈a̠]
To say read in Korean, use the verb 읽다 (ikda). It means to look at and interpret letters or other information.
읽다 is the everyday verb for reading books, newspapers and signs. Like in English, it is also the standard verb for reading data or code and even for reading someone's mind or intentions. To say you will try reading something, use 읽어 보다.
Meaning: to look at and interpret letters or other information (verb)
Which one should you use?
읽다 is the general verb for reading. 독서하다 is a formal word built from Chinese characters and refers to the activity of reading, such as reading books as a pastime. 읽어 보다 adds the idea of giving something a try.
How does it change in a sentence?
읽다 is the dictionary form. In the standard polite conversational style it becomes 읽어요, and in the formal polite style used in presentations or the news it becomes 읽습니다.
How do you pronounce it?
읽다 is romanized as ikda.
Did you know?
- In Korean, the word for reading a book 독서 is written with a character 독 that sounds identical to the character for 'poison' 독, though they have completely different meanings.
- While 읽다 covers general reading, Korean uses a separate, specialized verb 낭독하다 specifically for the act of reading a text aloud in a formal setting.
- The modern verb 읽다 originates from the Middle Korean word 닑다, which was documented in the 1447 text Seokbo sangjeol.
Examples in context
- 여러분, 종이 신문을 읽으시나요?Ladies and gentlemen (or everybody, you guys), do you read paper newspapers?Here 읽으시나요 is a polite, respectful question form used to ask a group whether they read paper newspapers.
- 저는 책을 읽습니다.I read books.
- 제가 독서를 좋아합니다.I like reading.
- 이 책을 읽어 보세요.Please try reading this book.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “read” translations and entries 읽다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 읽다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
