<ol>
<li>看 could mean <code>see</code>, <code>look</code>, <code>watch</code> and <code>read</code>, but 阅读 does not mean <code>see</code>, <code>look</code> or <code>watch</code>. 阅读 only means <code>read</code>. Examples: 

<ol>
<li>我在看书。(I'm reading a book.)</li>
<li>我在读书。(I'm reading a book.)</li>
<li>我在阅读。(I'm doing some reading.)(Normally we don't say <code>我在阅读书</code>; see below.)</li>
<li><strong>WRONG SENTENCE</strong>: 请阅读那个垃圾桶。(Please read that trash bin.)</li>
<li>请看那个垃圾桶。(Please look at that trash bin.)</li>
</ol></li>
<li>阅读 is more like an intransitive verb, or a noun in English, while 读 is more like a transitive verb. Examples:

<ol>
<li>我喜欢阅读。(I like reading.)</li>
<li><strong>UNNATURAL</strong>: 我喜欢阅读书。(I like reading books.)(Although in English it is very good, it sounds weird in Chinese, because a one-syllable word is combined with a two-syllable word.)</li>
<li><strong>RATHER FORMAL</strong>: 我喜欢阅读书籍。(I like reading books.)(This sounds formal rather than weird because two two-syllable words are put together.)</li>
</ol></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-17T16:37:25.260Z
regarding UNNATURAL: according to CCG *disyllabic verb + monosyllabic object e.g. ＊浏览书 (or 阅读书)is "invalid" but there would be  nothing wrong with monosyllabic verb + disyllabic object, e.g. 看电影 (see previous Q: What is the difference between 钱 and 金钱 (and 款)?)
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-07-16T16:21:48.737Z
2018-06-20T03:53:34.327Z
2018-06-20T03:53:34.327Z
Cnly
<p>What is the difference between the three <em>read</em> verbs, 阅读，读，and 看? A casual googling gets you some explanations but as I still can't get it correctly and it has not been posted here, I wish someone could clarify it.</p>

<p>I understand the difference of the three verbs from 念; 念 is used when you speak it out, sometimes loudly.</p>

<p>But as to the three verbs, 看 is used in more general while 阅读 is used when you concentrate on the action of reading...right?</p>

<p>And then I don't know the difference between 阅读 and 读. </p>

<p>Also, does 阅读 (or 读) is only used when you read words or sentences? For example, I'm now at Starbucks and see a trash bin outside, around 10m ahead. Is it awkward to say <code>请阅读那个垃圾桶</code>?</p>

<p>In most books I used I saw 看 is most often used, but during my current stay in China (too short yet), I have seen 阅读 far more often than 看...</p>

<word-choice>
What is the difference between 阅读, 读, and 看?
# What is the difference between 阅读, 读, and 看?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-16)

What is the difference between the three *read* verbs, 阅读，读，and 看? A casual googling gets you some explanations but as I still can't get it correctly and it has not been posted here, I wish someone could clarify it.

I understand the difference of the three verbs from 念; 念 is used when you speak it out, sometimes loudly.

But as to the three verbs, 看 is used in more general while 阅读 is used when you concentrate on the action of reading...right?

And then I don't know the difference between 阅读 and 读.

Also, does 阅读 (or 读) is only used when you read words or sentences? For example, I'm now at Starbucks and see a trash bin outside, around 10m ahead. Is it awkward to say `请阅读那个垃圾桶`?

In most books I used I saw 看 is most often used, but during my current stay in China (too short yet), I have seen 阅读 far more often than 看...

**Tags:** word-choice


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-07-16. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

1. 看 could mean `see`, `look`, `watch` and `read`, but 阅读 does not mean `see`, `look` or `watch`. 阅读 only means `read`. Examples:
   1. 我在看书。(I'm reading a book.)
   2. 我在读书。(I'm reading a book.)
   3. 我在阅读。(I'm doing some reading.)(Normally we don't say `我在阅读书`; see below.)
   4. **WRONG SENTENCE**: 请阅读那个垃圾桶。(Please read that trash bin.)
   5. 请看那个垃圾桶。(Please look at that trash bin.)
2. 阅读 is more like an intransitive verb, or a noun in English, while 读 is more like a transitive verb. Examples:
   1. 我喜欢阅读。(I like reading.)
   2. **UNNATURAL**: 我喜欢阅读书。(I like reading books.)(Although in English it is very good, it sounds weird in Chinese, because a one-syllable word is combined with a two-syllable word.)
   3. **RATHER FORMAL**: 我喜欢阅读书籍。(I like reading books.)(This sounds formal rather than weird because two two-syllable words are put together.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: regarding UNNATURAL: according to CCG *disyllabic verb + monosyllabic object e.g. ＊浏览书 (or 阅读书)is "invalid" but there would be  nothing wrong with monosyllabic verb + disyllabic object, e.g. 看电影 (see previous Q: What is the difference between 钱 and 金钱 (and 款)?)  

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