kànshū: 看书 - To Read a Book, Reading [The Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== kànshū: 看书 - To Read a Book, Reading ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**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 Sentences =====
  * **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."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
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."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[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**.