Correct
读 vs 念
/ dú vs niàn /
Strokes
Definition
读 and 念 both are Verb, which means [to read; to read aloud].
Example
Either 都 or 念 can be used to mean "read aloud", but the latter is more colloquial.
Since the two words are different in terms of classical and vernacular, 读 is used in 读诗班 (choir), and 念 is used in 和尚念经 (of monks recite or chant scriptures). (读经 is a set phrase meaning "reading old classics").
1
Tā
他
zhēng
正
ná
拿
zhāo
着
yī
一
běn
本
zhōngwén
中文
shū
书
dàshēng
大声
dì
地
dòu
读
(
niàn
念
)
。
He is reading Chinese aloud.
2
Lǎotàitai
老太太
dìgěi
递给
sūnzǐ
孙子
yī
一
fēng
封
xìn
信
,
ràng
让
tā
他
niàn
念
(
dòu
读
)
gěi
给
zìjǐ
自己
tīng
听
。
The old lady passed her grandson a letter and asked him to read it for her.
读 is used and not 念, to mean "read and comprehend".
3
Zuìjìn
最近
wǒ
我
dòu
读
le
了
jī
几
běn
本
hǎo
好
shū
书
。
I have read some good recently.
4
Zhè
这
běn
本
xuéshù
学术
zhùzuò
著作
zhíde
值得
yī
一
dòu
读
The academic work is worth reading.
5
Xuéxí
学习
wàiyǔ
外语
,
yào
要
dádào
达到
tīng
听
、
shuō
说
、
dòu
读
、
xiě
写
sìhuì
四会
de
的
yāoqiú
要求
。
Learning foreign languages should master four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Either 都 or 念 can be used to mean "go to school", but 念 is more colloquial.
6
Zhè
这
háizi
孩子
yǐjīng
已经
niàn
念
(
dòu
读
)
xiǎoxué
小学
wǔ
五
niánjí
年级
le
了
。
The child is a five-year pupil in a primary school.
7
Tā
她
zhèngzài
正在
dòu
读
(
niàn
念
)
yīxué
医学
。
She is studying medicine.