审阅 (shěn yuè) is a formal verb meaning 'to review and examine carefully, especially in an official or professional capacity.' The first character 审 (shěn) means 'to examine closely' or 'to scrutinize,' often implying judgment or verification; the second character 阅 (yuè) means 'to read' or 'to inspect,' suggesting careful reading of documents or materials. Together, they convey a rigorous, authoritative process—not casual reading, but an official evaluation with responsibility for accuracy, compliance, or approval.

This word is commonly used in administrative, academic, legal, and publishing contexts—such as reviewing contracts, research proposals, government reports, or manuscript submissions. It implies that the reviewer holds authority or expertise and may make binding decisions based on their assessment. It is rarely used in everyday conversation and almost never for informal or personal matters like checking a friend’s shopping list or skimming social media.