Meaning
To peruse a newspaper for news and information.
Cultural Background
In Korea, reading the newspaper is often associated with the 'morning person' (아침형 인간) ideal. Many successful people emphasize their habit of reading the paper early in the morning. Most Koreans now 'read the paper' via Naver or Daum news portals. The term '신문' is still used, but it often refers to the digital articles on these platforms. Parents often encourage children to read newspapers to improve their 'non-fiction' reading skills and prepare for the 'Suneung' (CSAT) exam, which features complex news-like texts. Physical newspapers are still very popular among the older generation in Korea. You will often see elderly men reading them in parks or community centers.
Use '보다' for casual talk
If you want to sound more natural in a cafe, say '{신문|新聞} 좀 {볼게요|볼게요}' (I'll look at the paper for a bit).
Watch the Batchim!
Don't forget that the pronunciation of '{읽다|讀다}' changes completely depending on whether a vowel follows it.
Meaning
To peruse a newspaper for news and information.
Use '보다' for casual talk
If you want to sound more natural in a cafe, say '{신문|新聞} 좀 {볼게요|볼게요}' (I'll look at the paper for a bit).
Watch the Batchim!
Don't forget that the pronunciation of '{읽다|讀다}' changes completely depending on whether a vowel follows it.
Learn Hanja for 'Newspaper'
Knowing that '신' means 'New' will help you understand words like '신제품' (new product) and '신인' (rookie).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct object marker.
저는 매일 {신문|新聞}___ {읽어요|읽어요}.
{신문|新聞} ends in a consonant (ㄴ), so '을' is the correct object marker.
Choose the correct conjugation for '읽다' in the present polite form.
아버지는 지금 {신문|新聞}을 _______.
When talking about 'father' (아버지), the honorific form '읽으세요' is most appropriate.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 어제 뭐 했어요? B: 집에서 쉬면서 {신문|新聞}을 _______.
The question is in the past tense (했어요), so the answer must also be in the past tense (읽었어요).
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
경제 {신문|新聞}을 {읽다|讀다}
Reading an economy newspaper is a common way to prepare for professional tasks.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises저는 매일 {신문|新聞}___ {읽어요|읽어요}.
{신문|新聞} ends in a consonant (ㄴ), so '을' is the correct object marker.
아버지는 지금 {신문|新聞}을 _______.
When talking about 'father' (아버지), the honorific form '읽으세요' is most appropriate.
A: 어제 뭐 했어요? B: 집에서 쉬면서 {신문|新聞}을 _______.
The question is in the past tense (했어요), so the answer must also be in the past tense (읽었어요).
경제 {신문|新聞}을 {읽다|讀다}
Reading an economy newspaper is a common way to prepare for professional tasks.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, that sounds like you are studying the physical object. Use '{신문|新聞}으로 {공부하다|工夫하다}' (to study *using* the newspaper).
No, it is widely used for digital news as well.
{신문|新聞}을 {읽으십니다|읽으십니다} is the highest formal honorific.
It's a more relaxed version, similar to 'looking at the news' in English.
Use '{신문|新聞}을 {구독하다|購讀하다}'.
Not a direct one, but people might say '뉴스 눈팅하다' (to lurk/read news without commenting).
Yes, '{만화책|漫畵冊}을 {읽다|讀다}' is correct, though '{보다|보다}' is more common for comics.
'{신문|新聞}' is the medium (newspaper), while '{뉴스|News}' is the content (news).
{신문|新聞}에서 {읽었어요|읽었어요}.
Digital reading is extremely common; physical reading is declining but still present in offices and among the elderly.
Related Phrases
{잡지|雜誌}를 {읽다|讀다}
similarTo read a magazine
{책|冊}을 {읽다|讀다}
builds onTo read a book
{뉴스|News}를 {시청|視聽}하다
contrastTo watch/listen to the news
{사설|社說}을 {읽다|讀다}
specialized formTo read an editorial
