Definition
To read something, such as a book, text, or sign.
Example
彼女は毎晩本を読む。
Show translation
She reads a book every night.
Etymology
From Old Japanese 読む (yomu). The root is shared with 訓読み (kun'yomi), the native Japanese reading system for kanji. Scholars trace it to a proto-Japonic root meaning "to count" or "to recite aloud," reflecting how early reading was done orally, counting characters as one spoke.
Cultural note
Japan has one of the world's highest literacy rates and a deep reading culture. The practice of 読書 (dokusho, "reading books") is widely encouraged, and many train commuters are famously seen reading — first newspapers, now smartphones and e-books. July 22 falls near the school summer holiday (夏休み), when reading lists (読書感想文, book report assignments) are a staple of Japanese student life.