The Meaning of yomu [読む] In Japanese

読む
よむ
Romaji: yomu N5

What does 読む mean?

Translation and Meaning

to read, to study, to read aloud

Definition

What does 読む mean? It means to engage with written language by extracting meaning from symbols, whether silently or aloud, and it also covers using reading as a way to learn or gather information from text.

Type

Verb (動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • read written text such as books, articles, and signs
  • read aloud or recite aloud for others
  • study or learn by reading, as in studying material or instructions

Composition

読 consists of the 言 radical signaling language or speech on the left, paired with a phonetic element on the right; adding the okurigana む forms the verb 読む, meaning to read as a unified action of engaging with written language.

Usage

Used in both casual and formal contexts. In polite speech, 読みます (yomimasu) or 読みません is common, while 読む (yomu) is plain form. It takes direct objects like 本, 新聞, 雑誌, ウェブ記事, and can describe silent reading, reading aloud, or skimming; the verb also appears in educational settings, media discussions, and everyday conversations about what someone has read.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine the mouth radical on the left guiding speech and a book on the right; as you turn pages, you say what you see, linking 読む to converting written symbols into spoken meaning.

Variations

  • 読む (yomu) — to read, base form
  • 読み上げる (yomiageru) — to read aloud
  • 閲覧する (etsuran suru) — to browse or view text
  • 書く (kaku) — to write, antonym

Example Phrases

  • 朝の通勤時、私は本を読む。
    Asa no tsūkinji, watashi wa hon o yomu.
    During my morning commute, I read a book.
    Lista:
    • 朝の (asa no) – morning
    • 通勤時 (tsūkinji) – during the commute
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 本を (hon o) – book (object marker)
    • 読む (yomu) – to read
    This uses the dictionary form 「読む」 for a general present action.
  • 夕日が窓に映える駅のホームで本を読む。
    Yūhi ga mado ni haeru eki no hōmu de hon o yomu.
    I read a book on the station platform where the sunset reflects in the window.
    Lista:
    • 夕日 (yūhi) – sunset
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 窓 (mado) – window
    • に (ni) – at/in/on
    • 映える (haeru) – to glow/shine/reflect
    • 駅 (eki) – station
    • の (no) – possessive/connector
    • ホーム (hōmu) – platform
    • で (de) – at
    • 本 (hon) – book
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 読む (yomu) – to read
    Uses the subject marker with 「夕日」 as the subject; 窓に映える describes the sunset reflecting on the window.
  • 今日は 記事 を 読む の が 楽しい。
    Kyou wa kiji o yomu no ga tanoshii.
    Today, reading articles is enjoyable.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 記事 (kiji) – article
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 読む (yomu) – read
    • の (no) – nominalizer
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 楽しい (tanoshii) – fun
    The core grammar point is 「記事」 as the direct object of 読む, shown by を in 記事を読む.
読む