看书

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Read a Book" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 看书
Pinyin: kàn shū
Pronunciation: kan4 shu1
English Translation: Read a book

Usage:

"看书 (kàn shū)" is a common phrase used to describe the act of reading a book. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Example:

Chinese: 我喜欢看书。
Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān kàn shū.
English: I like to read books.
Variations:

There are a few variations of "看书 (kàn shū)" that you may hear:

读书 (dú shū): Another way to say "read a book," which is more formal and literary.
温习 (wēnxí): To review or study a book.
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "看书 (kàn shū)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "read a book" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "看书 (kàn shū)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"看书 (kàn shū)" can also be used to refer to the act of reading something other than a book, such as a newspaper or magazine.
To ask someone if they like to read books, you can say "你喜欢看书吗 (nǐ xǐhuān kàn shū ma)?"
In some regions of China, people may also use "念书 (niàn shū)" to refer to reading books.