読む
yomu[jo̞mɯ̟]
To read in Japanese is 読む (yomu).
The verb 読む means to look at and understand written words. If you are referring to reading as a specific hobby or activity, the noun 読書 is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 読む can be conjugated into several forms: the negative form 'do not read' is 読まない, the past tense 'read' is 読んだ and the potential form 'can read' is 読める.
How do you pronounce it?
yomu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the verb 読む is also used to mean 'to interpret' or 'to guess' someone's intentions or the atmosphere of a room, such as in the phrase 空気を読む (to read the air).
- The verb 読む is used to describe the act of reciting a poem or chanting a sutra, even if the person has already memorized the words and is not looking at a page.
- The expression 読みがつく is used when you 'read' a situation or can 'predict' an outcome, implying that a future event is as legible as a written page.
Examples in context
- 君が読む番だよ。It's your turn to read.This sentence is useful for identifying whose turn it is to use the form 読む.Tatoeba #8733003 by small_snow, translation #1654667 by CM
- 本を読む暇がない。I have no time to read books.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of leisure time to use the form 読む.Tatoeba #164500 by small_snow, translation #250008 by CK
- 本を読む時間がない。I don't have time to read books.Tatoeba #164499 by small_snow, translation #1989782 by jackchak
- Watashi wa hon o yomimasu. (私は本を読みます)I read books.
- Kyou wa shinbun o yomimasu. (今日は新聞を読みます)Today, I will read the newspaper.
- Kinou manga wo yonda. (昨日漫画を読んだ)I read manga yesterday.
- 82 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are talking about a book in the living room.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、この本をもう読んだ？Yui, kono hon o mou yonda?Yui, have you already read this book?
- 結衣 Yuiいいえ、まだ読んでいないよ。Iie, mada yonde inai yo.No, I haven't read it yet.
- 大翔 Hiroto面白いから、ぜひ読んでみて。Omoshiroi kara, zehi yonde mite.It's interesting, so please try to read it.
- 結衣 Yuiわかった。明日から読むね。Wakatta. Ashita kara yomu ne.Got it. I'll read it starting tomorrow.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 読む, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
