TongTong
Sign in

拜读 (bài dòu) — (polite) to read (someone's work) respectfully; to have the honor of reading

Definition

拜读 is a humble, honorific verb meaning 'to read (someone's work) respectfully.' Used only for the work of a superior or respected person — the speaker humbles themselves, so it never refers to your own reading.

verb
(polite) to read (someone's work) respectfullyto have the honor of reading

Examples

  • 拜读，。
    Wǒ zuó tiān bài dòu le nín de dà zuò, shēn shòu qǐ fā.
    I had the honor of reading your masterpiece yesterday and was deeply inspired.
  • 拜读，。
    bài dòu Nín de wén zhāng hòu, wǒ duì zhè ge wèn tí yǒu le xīn de lǐ jiě.
    After respectfully reading your article, I gained a new understanding of this issue.
  • 拜读，。
    Yǒu jī huì bài dòu xiān sheng de xīn shū, shí zài róng xìng.
    It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to read your new book, sir.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

拜bàirespectfully
读dúread

拜 gives respect, and 读 gives the act of reading.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

拜 combines 扌 (hand, written fully as 手) with 𠦪 (herbs), showing a hand holding herbs as a gift.

Open 拜 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 讀; 读 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánto say
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧶠
𧶠𧶠讀dú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 讀 is made of 言 ('to say') and 𧶠 (giving the sound); this description is about 讀, not 读.

Open 读 →
Appears in
Greetings & PolitenessReading & Writing

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.