TongTong
Sign in

阅览 (yuè lǎn) — to read (formally, in a library or while perusing documents); to browse materials

Definition

阅览 (yuè lǎn) is a formal, written verb for 'to read' or 'browse' in a setting like a library or reading room — more formal than 阅读, and unlike 浏览 it implies reading carefully, not just skimming.

verb
to read (formally, in a library or while perusing documents)to browse materials

Examples

  • 阅览。
    Tā měi tiān xià wǔ dōu qù tú shū guǎn yuè lǎn zá zhì.
    He goes to the library every afternoon to read magazines.
  • ，阅览。
    Qǐng zài zhè fèn bào gào shàng qiān míng, rán hòu zǐ xì yuè lǎn yí biàn.
    Please sign this report, then read it through carefully.
  • 。
    Xīn kāi fàng de yuè lǎn shì pèi yǒu shū shì de zuò yǐ hé chōng zú de guāng xiàn.
    The newly opened reading room is equipped with comfortable seats and ample light.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

阅yuèread
览lǎnperuse

The reading in 阅 and the perusing in 览 together mean careful reading.

Characters in this word

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 閱; 阅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門mén
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì閱yuè
Same sound today

The traditional form 閱 pairs 門, a gate, with 兌, a part that gives the sound; the simplified 阅 is a shorthand.

Open 阅 →

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 覽; 览 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
監
監jiān覽lǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 覽 uses 見, meaning see, for the sense and 監 for the sound; the simplified 览 is a later shorthand.

Open 览 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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