nim6 syu1唸書念书
Jyutpingnim6 syu1
Yalenihm syū
Definition
To read aloud; also to study or learn.
- to read aloud the words in a book
- to study; to learn; to revise lessons
colloquialdaily actionsschool
How it's used
Distinguish this from 讀書, which almost exclusively refers to the act of studying or attending school. While 唸書 can technically mean studying in some dialects, in Hong Kong Cantonese it specifically emphasizes the act of vocalizing text. Use it when you want to describe the physical action of reading words out loud rather than the abstract process of acquiring knowledge.
Examples
He is reading the book aloud very loudly.
Related words
Common phrases
sound of reading aloud
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 讀書, which is the standard term for studying or being a student. Using 唸書 to mean studying will sound unnatural or like a non-native speaker, as 唸書 is reserved for the literal act of reading aloud.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
