kànshū: 看书 - To Read a Book, Reading

• Keywords: kanshu, kàn shū, 看书, read a book in Chinese, Chinese for reading, how to say reading in Chinese, Chinese verb, HSK 1 vocabulary, learn Chinese reading, 看 vs 读, kanshu vs dushu.
• Summary: “看书” (kàn shū) is one of the most fundamental phrases in Mandarin Chinese, literally meaning “to look at a book.” It is the most common way to say “to read” or “reading” in the context of leisure, personal enjoyment, or quiet study. As a core HSK 1 verb, understanding how to use 看书 is essential for any beginner learning to describe their hobbies and daily activities in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kàn shū
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (often functions as a single verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To read a book; to do some reading.
• In a Nutshell: “看书” (kàn shū) is the go-to phrase for the general activity of reading. It combines “to look/watch” (看) with “book” (书). Think of it as the simple, everyday action of sitting down with a book, an e-reader, or even a long article for personal enrichment or pleasure. It emphasizes the visual act of consuming written content silently.

• 看 (kàn): This character is a compound of a “hand” (手) over an “eye” (目). The original image is of a person shading their eye with their hand to get a better look at something in the distance. Its core meaning is “to look,” “to see,” or “to watch.”
• 书 (shū): The traditional form (書) depicts a hand holding a writing brush. The simplified character retains the essence of something written. Its core meaning is “book,” “document,” or “writing.”
• When combined, 看书 (kàn shū) creates a very literal and intuitive meaning: “to look at a book,” which is the Chinese way of expressing the action of reading.

In Chinese culture, education and scholarship have been held in extremely high regard for millennia. There's a famous proverb, “书中自有黄金屋” (shū zhōng zì yǒu huángjīn wū), which translates to “Within books, one can find houses of gold.” This reflects a deep-seated belief that reading and study are the primary paths to success, wealth, and wisdom. While in English, “reading” is a broad term, 看书 (kàn shū) has a more specific cultural feel. It often evokes an image of quiet, focused activity—a form of self-cultivation or relaxation. It's less about the mechanical act of deciphering words (like reading a street sign) and more about the sustained activity of engaging with a text. This contrasts with the Western concept which might equally apply to skimming a newsfeed or reading a novel. 看书 implies a commitment of time and attention to a book or similar long-form content.

看书 is an extremely common, informal term used in everyday conversation.

• Describing Hobbies: It's a very common answer to the question “What are your hobbies?” (你的爱好是什么? Nǐ de àihào shì shénme?). Replying “我喜欢看书” (Wǒ xǐhuān kàn shū) is a standard and well-regarded response.
• Daily Activities: People use it to describe what they are doing at the moment (“我在看书” - I am reading), or what their plans are (“我周末只想在家安安静静地看书” - I just want to stay home and read quietly this weekend).
• General vs. Specific: While it literally means “read a book,” it can be used for reading magazines, long articles on a phone, or an e-reader. The key is that it refers to the activity of reading, not just a passing glance at a short text. Its connotation is neutral and descriptive.

• Example 1:
  • 我爸爸每天晚上都看书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba měitiān wǎnshàng dōu kàn shū.
  • English: My dad reads a book every evening.
  • Analysis: This example shows 看书 used to describe a habitual action. The use of “每天” (měitiān - every day) establishes the routine.
• Example 2:
  • 你在做什么？我在图书馆看书。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zài zuò shénme? Wǒ zài túshūguǎn kàn shū.
  • English: What are you doing? I'm reading at the library.
  • Analysis: A classic conversational exchange. “在 (zài)” is used here to indicate an action in progress, similar to the English “-ing” form.
• Example 3:
  • 我觉得看书比看电视有意思多了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde kàn shū bǐ kàn diànshì yǒuyìsi duō le.
  • English: I think reading books is much more interesting than watching TV.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the “比 (bǐ)” structure to make a comparison, highlighting 看书 as a distinct activity that can be compared to others like “看电视” (kàn diànshì - watching TV).
• Example 4:
  • 这个周末你有什么计划？我只想在家看书。
  • Pinyin: Zhège zhōumò nǐ yǒu shéme jìhuà? Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng zài jiā kàn shū.
  • English: What are your plans for this weekend? I just want to stay home and read.
  • Analysis: Here, 看书 is used to describe a planned activity for leisure and relaxation.
• Example 5:
  • 她喜欢看历史书。
  • Pinyin: Tā xǐhuān kàn lìshǐ shū.
  • English: She likes to read history books.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how you can insert a topic between “看” and “书” to specify what kind of book is being read. The phrase remains “kàn…shū”.
• Example 6:
  • 请安静一点，弟弟正在看书呢。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng ānjìng yīdiǎn, dìdi zhèngzài kàn shū ne.
  • English: Please be a bit quieter, my little brother is reading.
  • Analysis: The structure “正在…呢” (zhèngzài…ne) strongly emphasizes that the action of reading is happening right now.
• Example 7:
  • 看书可以帮助我们学习新知识。
  • Pinyin: Kàn shū kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒmen xuéxí xīn zhīshì.
  • English: Reading can help us learn new knowledge.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 看书 acts as the subject, showing that the entire concept of “reading” can be discussed.
• Example 8:
  • 我今天太累了，不想看书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, bù xiǎng kàn shū.
  • English: I'm too tired today, I don't want to read.
  • Analysis: A simple negative form using “不想” (bù xiǎng) to express a lack of desire to perform the action.
• Example 9:
  • 他看书看得很快，一天能看一本。
  • Pinyin: Tā kàn shū kàn de hěn kuài, yī tiān néng kàn yī běn.
  • English: He reads very fast, he can finish one book in a day.
  • Analysis: This is a great example of a verb-object phrase used with a degree complement. You repeat the verb (“看”) and add “得 (de)” to describe how he reads.
• Example 10:
  • 睡觉以前，我喜欢看一会儿书。
  • Pinyin: Shuìjiào yǐqián, wǒ xǐhuān kàn yīhuìr shū.
  • English: Before sleeping, I like to read for a little while.
  • Analysis: This shows how to specify the duration of the action. “一会儿” (yīhuìr) is placed between “看” and “书” to mean “read for a bit.”

The most significant point of confusion for learners is the difference between 看书 (kàn shū) and 读书 (dú shū). They can seem interchangeable, but their primary meanings are very different.

• 看书 (kàn shū): To read a book (usually silently, for pleasure or information).
  • This focuses on the physical action of looking at words and comprehending them. It's the general term for reading.
  • Correct: 我喜欢看书。 (Wǒ xǐhuān kàn shū.) - I like to read books.
• 读书 (dú shū): To study; to attend school; to read aloud.
  • While it can literally mean “to read a book,” its most common and important meaning is “to pursue an education” or “to be a student.”
  • Correct: 他在清华大学读书。 (Tā zài Qīnghuá Dàxué dú shū.) - He is studying at Tsinghua University.
  • Incorrect: 他在清华大学看书。 (This would mean he is physically at the university, reading a book, not that he is enrolled as a student.)

Common Mistake: Using 看书 when you mean “to study” or “attend school.” If you tell a Chinese person “我在北京看书,” they will think you are simply in Beijing, reading for fun, not that you are enrolled in a university there. The correct phrase for that is “我在北京读书.”

• 读书 (dú shū) - The most important related term. Primarily means “to study” or “to attend school,” but can also mean “to read aloud.”
• 阅读 (yuèdú) - A more formal, written word for “to read” or “reading.” You would see this in articles or formal instructions, but use 看书 in conversation.
• 学习 (xuéxí) - The general verb “to study” or “to learn.” You can 学习 Chinese by 看书.
• 图书馆 (túshūguǎn) - Library (literally “pictures-books-building”). The place where you go to 看书.
• 书店 (shūdiàn) - Bookstore. A place to buy books to 看书.
• 看报 (kàn bào) - To read a newspaper. Follows the same “看 + object” structure.
• 看杂志 (kàn zázhì) - To read a magazine.
• 小说 (xiǎoshuō) - Novel. A common type of book people 看.
• 作者 (zuòzhě) - Author. The person who writes the books you 看.