Key Facts
- Hangul: 독서; Revised Romanization: dokseo; pronounced [dok-sseo]
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 讀書 (讀 read + 書 book)
- Register: Somewhat formal/written; 독서 is the standard answer for hobby in forms, while 책 읽기 is more casual.
Reading in Korean: What Does 독서 Mean?
독서 means reading books. It is Sino-Korean and sounds somewhat formal or written. It is the standard answer for hobby on a form, while 책 읽기 is the more casual way to say you read.
How Do You Pronounce 독서?
Written 독서, said [dok-sseo]. The final consonant of the first syllable makes the s of the second syllable tense, so it sounds like "dok-sseo", not "dok-seo".
Example Sentences with 독서
제 취미는 독서예요.
Je chwimineun dokseoyeyo.
My hobby is reading.
This is the hobby answer in an introduction or on a form. 제 취미는 means my hobby is, and 이에요 becomes 예요 after a vowel.
저는 매일 독서를 해요.
Jeoneun maeil dokseoreul haeyo.
I read every day.
독서를 해요 treats reading as an activity, using 하다 to do. 매일 means every day, so it describes a habit.
가을은 독서의 계절이에요.
Gaeureun dokseoui gyejeorieyo.
Autumn is the season for reading.
Autumn is called the reading season in Korea, so this sentence is a familiar cultural line, not just grammar.
Common Phrases and Collocations
독서 uses 하다 rather than a stand-alone verb. The set phrases below are the useful ones.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 독서를 하다 | read (books) |
| 독서 시간 | reading time |
| 독서의 계절 | season for reading |
The Mistake to Avoid
English "reading" covers books, messages and signs alike, but 독서 only means reading books, usually for pleasure or self-improvement.
Wrong: 독서 for reading a text message or a menu
Correct: 읽기 for reading in general; 독서 for reading books
The sound trips learners up too: the second syllable is tense, [dok-sseo], not a soft dok-seo.
독서 Compared with Similar Words
Two nearby words cover the object and the act.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 독서 | reading (books) | This page's word |
| 책 | book | book |
| 읽기 | reading | reading (act of reading) |
Background on 독서
Korea often calls autumn 독서의 계절, the season of reading.
At a First Meeting: Talking about Books
Two people are getting to know each other at a community class. One names reading as a hobby. The follow-up switches naturally from the activity 독서 to the concrete object 책.
Classmate A
취미가 뭐예요?
Chwimiga mwoyeyo?
What is your hobby?
Classmate B
독서예요.
Dokseoyeyo.
Reading.
Classmate A
어떤 책을 좋아해요?
Eotteon chaegeul joahaeyo?
What kind of books do you like?
Classmate B
소설을 좋아해요.
Soseoreul joahaeyo.
I like novels.
독서예요 is enough as an answer because the hobby is already the topic. 어떤 asks “what kind of”, and 소설 means a novel or fiction. The reply can describe a general preference without adding a plural ending to 소설. This is a natural next step after saying that reading is your hobby.
독서, 독서하다 and 책을 읽다
독서 is the activity noun. 독서를 하다 means to do that activity, and 독서하다 is a verb meaning to read books. The version with 를 is written as two words; 독서하다 is written as one. Both keep the book-reading meaning of 독서.
책을 읽다 means to read a book or books. It names the object, 책, and uses the general verb 읽다, to read. This is a comfortable choice in everyday talk about what you are doing. 독서 is especially useful when you need an activity label, such as a hobby or a program title.
읽기 can name reading as a skill. In a Korean course, an 읽기 section may include notices, messages or short passages. Calling that whole skill 독서 would narrow it to books. The difference matters when you choose study materials: a reading-skills exercise is not necessarily a book-reading activity.
Useful Compounds with 독서
독서 모임 means a reading group or book club. 모임 is a gathering, so the phrase names people coming together around reading. A library notice with this phrase may invite readers to discuss a book, rather than simply sit silently and read.
독서 기록 means a reading record or log. 기록 means a record, so the phrase can label notes about books you have finished. 독서 감상문 is a written response to a book: 감상 concerns impressions or appreciation, and 문 identifies a piece of writing. A log and a response essay serve different purposes.
독서 시간 literally means reading time. On a school or family schedule it sets aside time for books. 독서의 계절, “the season for reading”, is a familiar expression about autumn; it is not a rule that book reading belongs to only one season.
Where Will You See 독서?
Hobby fields, library programs and school notices use 독서 as a compact label. In conversation, someone may answer 독서예요 and then talk about a specific 책 or 소설. The noun’s slightly written tone does not make it impolite or unsuitable for speaking.
On an application form, 독서 names the hobby. In a bookstore, you usually need the type of book or its title to find an item. Recognizing the activity word helps you understand a program; naming the book helps you ask for something on a shelf.
Words for the Next Question about Reading
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 책 | book | Name the object you read. |
| 소설 | novel; fiction | Answer a question about a favorite type of book. |
| 도서관 | library | A place to borrow books or find reading programs. |
| 서점 | bookstore | A place to buy books. |
The hobbies lesson places 독서 beside other activities. Keep 책 and the place words ready for follow-up questions about what you read and where you find it.
Quick Self-Test
- Would 독서 be the best label for reading a text message?
- What does 독서 모임 mean?
- Which word names a place to borrow books: 서점 or 도서관?
Show answers
- No. 독서 means book reading; use 읽다 for reading a message.
- A reading group or book club. 모임 means a gathering.
- 도서관 is a library. 서점 is a bookstore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say reading in Korean?
Say 독서 (dokseo), pronounced [dok-sseo].
What do you write for hobby on a form?
독서 is the standard answer.
How do you say reading time?
Say 독서 시간.
Why is autumn linked to reading?
Koreans call it 독서의 계절, the season of reading.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Hobbies and leisure words groups 독서 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists 독서 with every other single-word page.
- Practice: add 독서 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list: the page for travel.
- Compare with the page for book.