Meaning
阅 is a formal verb meaning to read, review, or inspect something. It's more literary and formal than the everyday word 看 (kàn). It often appears in written contexts, official documents, or as part of compound words related to reading and reviewing.
Usage
This character is rarely used alone in spoken Chinese. It most commonly appears in compound words like 阅读 (yuèdú, to read) or 阅览 (yuèlǎn, to browse/read). When used independently, it carries a formal, literary tone and is more likely to appear in written notices like '已阅' (yǐ yuè, 'reviewed/read') on documents.
Examples
- 01老师已经批阅了我们的作文。.The teacher has already reviewed our essays.
- 02这份文件需要经理审阅后才能发出。.This document needs to be reviewed by the manager before it can be sent out.
Common collocations
- 阅读理解reading comprehension
- 阅览室reading room
- 已阅read/reviewed (marking on documents)
- 批阅作业to grade/review homework
Origin
The traditional form 閱 contains the gate radical 門 (mén) and 兌 (duì), suggesting the idea of examining or inspecting something at a gate or threshold. The simplified form 阅 replaces the gate with 门.