Read and Study in Chinese

We shared findings of this study with a number of our graduate students. One advised us that in Chinese, the characters that represent read (see Figure 1) signify pleasure, while entirely different characters (see Figure 2) represent inquiry into or spending time to learn and memorize -- what in English would be denoted by “reading” a school book (Chen, personal communication, November 2000)

Figure 1
Chinese Orthography Representing Read (for Pleasure)

figure showing Chinese characters

     

Figure 2
Chinese Orthography Representing Read (to Learn)

figure showing Chinese characters

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Reading Online, www.readingonline.org
Posted February 2001
© 2001 International Reading Association, Inc.   ISSN 1096-1232