“To read” in Japanese is 読む (よむ), pronounced yomu.
Pronunciation
The word has 2 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To read. Also used for reading kanji aloud: これは何と読みますか, how do you read this?
Example sentences
- 毎晩本を読みます。まいばんほんをよみます。I read a book every night.
- この漢字は何と読みますか。このかんじはなんとよみますか。How do you read this kanji?
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 読む. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 読む よむ | read |
| Polite present | 読みます よみます | read |
| Polite negative | 読みません よみません | don’t read |
| Polite past | 読みました よみました | past of “read” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 読まない よまない | don’t read (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 読んだ よんだ | past of “read” (casual) |
| て-form | 読んで よんで | read and… / please read (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 読みたい よみたい | want to read |
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
What does {{読む}} mean?
How do you read {{読む}}?
Which word means “to write”?
Related words: Everyday verbs
FAQ
How do you say to read in Japanese?
To read in Japanese is 読む (よむ), pronounced “yomu”.
How do you write to read in Japanese?
It's written 読む with kanji, or よむ in hiragana. Both are read yomu.
Is 読む on the JLPT?
Yes. 読む (yomu) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.