'读书' literally combines '读' (dú), meaning 'to read', and '书' (shū), meaning 'book'. Together, it means 'to read (books)' or 'to study', especially in an academic or formal learning context. Unlike the more general verb '看书' (to read a book for leisure), '读书' often implies purposeful, sustained engagement with texts—such as studying for exams, pursuing education, or reading scholarly material. It carries a connotation of diligence and intellectual effort.

The term is frequently used to describe school-related activities, lifelong learning, or even metaphorical 'reading' of life experiences (e.g., '读万卷书，行万里路'). It appears commonly in phrases like '读书人' (a learned person) or '读书日' (Reading Day). While it can occasionally refer to literal book-reading, its default sense leans toward serious study rather than casual reading. Its usage spans both spoken and written Chinese, though it sounds slightly more formal or literary than '看书'.