What is the difference between "読みます", "よむ", "行間を読む", "渉猟する"?

"読みます" means "to read (polite form)", "よむ" means "to read", "行間を読む" means "to read between the lines", "渉猟する" means "to read extensively".

Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "読みます", "よむ", "行間を読む", "渉猟する"

All represent the core concept "read", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

読みます

よみます (yomimasu)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

よむ

よむ (yomu)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

行間を読む

ぎょうかんをよむ (gyoukanwoyomu)

C2 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

渉猟する

しょうりょうする (shouryou suru)

C2 / CEFR

Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "read" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "読みます", "よむ", "行間を読む", "渉猟する" based on context.

読みます (よみます (yomimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to read (polite form)" and is used when Polite form of 読む.
よむ (よむ (yomu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to read" and is used when Transitive verb. Used for reading books, newspapers, letters, etc. The kanji is 読む..
行間を読む (ぎょうかんをよむ (gyoukanwoyomu) - Level: C2): Maps to "to read between the lines" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus..
渉猟する (しょうりょうする (shouryou suru) - Level: C2): Maps to "to read extensively" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "読みます"

本を読みます。

I read books.

Context for "よむ"

本をよみます。

I read books.

Context for "行間を読む"

毎日、日本語を練習するために行間を読む。

Every day, I read between the lines to practice Japanese.

Context for "渉猟する"

毎日、日本語を練習するために渉猟する。

Every day, I read extensively to practice Japanese.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "本を＿＿＿。" (Meaning: "I read books.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "読みます" is correct here because it represents "to read (polite form)" in the context: "I read books.".