阅读 (yuè dú) means 'to read' with emphasis on understanding and processing written material—not just pronouncing words aloud. It combines 阅 (yuè), meaning 'to examine, review, or peruse', and 读 (dú), meaning 'to read aloud or silently'. Together, they convey the active, thoughtful act of reading for comprehension—such as studying a text, analyzing an article, or absorbing information from books, news, or instructions.

This verb is commonly used in academic, professional, and everyday contexts: students 阅读 textbooks, professionals 阅读 reports, and readers 阅读 novels or online articles. Unlike 看 (kàn, 'to look at'), which is more general, 阅读 specifically implies cognitive engagement with written content. It's often followed by objects like 书 (shū, 'book'), 文章 (wénzhāng, 'article'), or 材料 (cáiliào, 'material'), and frequently appears in formal or educational settings.